I have just run into this, there is a much earlier similar issue in Apache bugzilla where they refer the problem php:
https://issues.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=24120 In the apache config file I have the something like the following in a virtual host definition: php_value open_basedir "/var/www/InternalFacing/:/usr/share/pear:/usr/local/php" <Directory "/var/www/InternalFacing/html/MyHidden"> php_value open_basedir "/var/www/InternalFacing/:/usr/share/pear:/usr/local/php:/var/somewhere/" </Directory> A php script inside /var/www/InternalFacing/html/MyHidden cannot open files under /var/somewhere/. If I comment out the first 'php_value' (ie outside the <Directory> container) it works ... but not if I leave it in. So: it seems that 'php_value open_basedir' does not interact properly with apache containers. I am using httpd 2.2.15 and php 5.3.3 on a Centos 6 system. Regards -- Alain Williams Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer. +44 (0) 787 668 0256 http://www.phcomp.co.uk/ Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information: http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php #include <std_disclaimer.h> -- PHP Internals - PHP Runtime Development Mailing List To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php