PHP ActiveX

Set the FTP Password from a SecureString

Demonstrates the Chilkat Ftp2.SetSecurePassword method, which sets the login password from a SecureString. The only argument is the SecureString. It is equivalent to setting the Password property but avoids holding the password as an ordinary immutable string.

Background: An ordinary string password can linger in memory (and in memory dumps) because strings are immutable and copied freely. A SecureString keeps the value encrypted under a session key and clears it deterministically, reducing that exposure — a sensible upgrade for a credential the process holds for the life of the connection. Populate it from a runtime source rather than a hard-coded literal.

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<?php

$success = 0;

//  Demonstrates the Ftp2.SetSecurePassword method, which sets the login password from a
//  SecureString.  The only argument is the SecureString.  This avoids holding the password as an
//  ordinary immutable string.

$ftp = new COM("Chilkat.Ftp2");

$ftp->Hostname = 'ftp.example.com';
$ftp->Username = 'myFtpLogin';

//  Normally you would not hard-code the password in source.  You should instead obtain it
//  from an interactive prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
$password = 'myPassword';

//  Place the password into a SecureString, which keeps it encrypted in memory.
$securePassword = new COM("Chilkat.SecureString");
$securePassword->Append($password);

//  Setting the secure password is equivalent to setting the Password property, but more
//  protective.
$success = $ftp->SetSecurePassword($securePassword);
if ($success == 0) {
    print $ftp->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

$success = $ftp->Connect();
if ($success == 0) {
    print $ftp->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}

print 'Connected using a secure password.' . "\n";

$success = $ftp->Disconnect();
if ($success == 0) {
    print $ftp->LastErrorText . "\n";
    exit;
}


?>