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What are best practices for securely handling file uploads on a website?
Asked on Nov 20, 2025
Answer
To securely handle file uploads on a website, it is crucial to validate and sanitize the files, restrict file types, and store them safely. Implementing these practices helps protect against common vulnerabilities like file inclusion and script execution.
Example Concept: Secure file upload handling involves validating file types, checking file size limits, and storing files outside the web root. Use server-side checks to ensure files are not executable and employ Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate risks. Headers like Content-Disposition and X-Content-Type-Options can further enhance security by controlling how files are handled by the browser.
Additional Comment:
- Always validate file types on the server side, not just the client side, to prevent bypassing checks.
- Store uploaded files outside the web root to prevent direct access via URL.
- Set appropriate permissions on uploaded files to minimize access and execution risks.
✅ Answered with Security best practices.
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