What security measures should be implemented when handling user-uploaded images in PHP?

When handling user-uploaded images in PHP, it is crucial to implement security measures to prevent potential vulnerabilities such as file upload attacks or malicious code execution. One way to enhance security is by validating the file type and size before processing the image. Additionally, storing the images in a separate directory outside of the web root can help prevent direct access to the uploaded files. 

// Validate file type and size before processing the image
$allowedTypes = ['image/jpeg', 'image/png', 'image/gif'];
$maxSize = 5 * 1024 * 1024; // 5MB

if (in_array($_FILES['image']['type'], $allowedTypes) && $_FILES['image']['size'] <= $maxSize) {
    // Process the image
} else {
    // Display an error message or handle the invalid file upload
}

// Store the images in a separate directory outside of the web root
$uploadDirectory = '/path/to/uploaded/images/';
$uploadedFile = $uploadDirectory . basename($_FILES['image']['name']);

if (move_uploaded_file($_FILES['image']['tmp_name'], $uploadedFile)) {
    // File uploaded successfully
} else {
    // Handle file upload error
}

Keywords

file uploads image validation image manipulation secure file storage input sanitization

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