PHP (under httpd) reading a file outside DocumentRoot?

[Jeff Weinberger <jweinberger@xxxxxxx>]

I don't know if this is an Apache (httpd) or a PHP issue (I suspect  
PHP, but I may be doing something wrong with mod_suexec), so I hope  
this is the right place to ask. I certainly appreciate any help anyone  
can offer!

I am trying to get a PHP script to read a file that's outside the  
DocumentRoot of a VirtualHost, in fact well outside the parent  
directory of all of my virtual hosts.

I have successfully managed to get Apache httpd to run the script as  
the correct user and group (matching the target file's ownership)  
using SuexecUserGroup. I tested this by having the script create/write  
a test file, which had owner and group set correctly.

However, when I run the script, at the file("/path/to/target/file")  
command, PHP tells me it can't open the file - permission is denied.

In php.ini safe_mode is off and open_basedir is not set.

I am not sure where else to look for a solution - any help is very  
much appreciated!

FYI: PHP 5.2.6, Apache httpd 2.2.11, mod_ssl/2.2.11, OpenSSL/0.9.7l on  
Mac OS/X 10.5.5. I'm reaching the script over an SSL (https)  
connection if that matters).

Thanks!

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