How can I allow a user to download a file which is

Question

I am developing a system which allows registered users (who could be anybody) to upload files. I've block mime-types etc. to attempt to restrict the files to .doc, .docx and .pdf types, but for additional security, they are uploaded to a folder outside the webroot.

Other users can then choose to download the files. How do I allow them to do that? Obviously I can't just put in a link to the file, as it's outside the webroot. I'm not sure how to reach the file though! I presume I can use the php file functions to get to the file, but how do I then 'serve it up' to the user who has requested it?

What security implications might all of this have?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Try the following:

$fileName = basename($_GET['file']);
$path = 'path/to/data/'.$fileName;

// define $mimeType and $isAuthenticated

if ($isAuthenticated && file_exists($path)) {
    // serve file
    header('Content-type: '.$mimeType);
    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="'.$fileName.'"');
    readfile($path);
} else {
    // 404
}

This will probably need some more headers to suit your needs, but you should get an idea how this can be used.

Answer 2

See the answers to this similar question: Refer to a file outside the website tree for downloading purposes, which links to the PHP header function manual page.

Answer 3

You need a PHP script that does the following:

1. Set the content-type header correctly (depending on what the user is downloading)
2. Set the content-length header correctly (depending on the file size)
3. Open the file for reading (you can use fopen)
4. Read the file and output its content to the output stream
5. Done

You can also use readfile function to do basically the same. Here's an example from PHP's site:

<?php
$file = 'monkey.gif';

if (file_exists($file)) {
    header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
    header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');
    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename='.basename($file));
    header('Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary');
    header('Expires: 0');
    header('Cache-Control: must-revalidate, post-check=0, pre-check=0');
    header('Pragma: public');
    header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($file));
    ob_clean();
    flush();
    readfile($file);
    exit;
}
?>

Answer 4

You can put your files directory in root and apply mod rewrite rules to secure and show a virtual path to the users instead of real path.