Remote File Inclusion (RFI)
Remote File Inclusion (RFI) is a type of vulnerability in computer systems where an attacker is able to include a remote file into a website. This allows the attacker to execute malicious code on the victim’s system.
To explain it simply, imagine you have a toy box full of toys that you allow your friends to play with. One day, a stranger comes over and asks to play with your toys. You notice that they brought their own toy, which they claim is really cool and should be included in the toy box. So you let them add the toy to the box without knowing that it’s actually a remote-controlled bomb.
In the world of computer systems, the “toy box” is the website or software that accepts inputs from users. The “toys” are the code and files that make up the website or software. The “stranger” is the attacker, and the “remote-controlled bomb” is the malicious code that the attacker wants to execute on the victim’s system.
This type of vulnerability can be prevented by ensuring that inputs from users are properly sanitized and validated before being processed by the system. It’s also important to keep all software and plugins up-to-date to avoid known vulnerabilities.