Is it safe to deny access to .ini file in .htaccess?

Question

I have a .ini file with sensitive information in my php wab app. I denied access to it using a .htaccess file:

<files my.ini>
  order deny,allow
  deny from all
</files>

I don't have access to folders outside of htdocs, so I can't move the .ini file out of browsable territory.

Is my solution safe?

Answer 1

The .htaccess will block access from the web. However, if you're using a shared hosting environment, it might be possible for other users to access your ini. If its on a (virtual private) server and you're the only user for that server you're safe.

In case of shared hosting it depends on server configuration. For more info read: PHP Security in a shared hosting environment

You can temporarily install PHPShell and browse through the server filesystem to check if your server is vulnerable. (requires some commandline knowledge)