Remote file inclusion (RFI) is a hacker attack on websites where a file is injected into the server, causing havoc based on the encoded content. It can cause DoS, data theft or vulnerabilities. Validation rules should be in place to prevent RFI attacks.
Remote file inclusion (RFI) is a type of hacker attack that mostly occurs on websites. This attack occurs if the administrator or website builder does not include the proper validation and anyone who wants to is able to to sneak a file into the system. With this attack, the hacker injects a remote file into the server and the content of the file wreaks havoc on the server based on what the hacker encoded. Some remote file inclusion attacks simply add a random text string to the website, while others can cause something more malicious, such as denial of service (DoS), data theft or further vulnerabilities on the website.
All websites consist of many files, for images, code and other features. If your administrator does not include validation rules that check incoming files, including remote files is one of the easiest attacks for a hacker to perform. The hacker just needs to manipulate the website address into including a new file, and the remote file will be uploaded to the server.
The remote file itself is usually a text file that contains some sort of malicious code. At best, the hacker simply uses remote file inclusion to add random text to the website to deface it. This is annoying but not necessarily dangerous. Administrators will find that their system is vulnerable, and by doing so, the hacker could perform a service by alerting administrators to the security hole.
More often, however, a remote file include attack is much worse for the website owner. After the script in the text file runs inside the server, it can cause a DoS attack by constantly pinging the server until the website stops working. All the data stored in the database can also be stolen from the website.
Another reason to use remote file inclusion is to make your website weaker to other attacks. When the code runs, it can easily blow large holes in an otherwise secure website, which is what a hacker might need to get further into the website, server, or database. This could be difficult for the administrator to solve because, once the code is executed, he can modify or manipulate all other files associated with the website.
To avoid being hacked, administrators usually place validation rules on external files. Better still, external files are not allowed into the system through such loopholes. RFI is an easy attack for both new and advanced hackers, but if the administrator guarantees validation of all files, the remote file should not be able to intrude.
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