Security and Safe Mode
Command line usage
Safe Mode
PHP Manual

## Functions restricted/disabled by safe mode

This is a still probably incomplete and possibly incorrect listing of the functions limited by safe mode.

Safe mode limited functions
Function | Limitations
--- | ---
dbmopen() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
dbase_open() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
filepro() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
filepro_rowcount() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
filepro_retrieve() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
ifx_* | sql_safe_mode restrictions, (!= safe mode)
ingres_* | sql_safe_mode restrictions, (!= safe mode)
mysql_* | sql_safe_mode restrictions, (!= safe mode)
pg_lo_import() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
posix_mkfifo() | Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
putenv() | Obeys the safe_mode_protected_env_vars and safe_mode_allowed_env_vars ini-directives. See also the documentation on putenv()
move_uploaded_file() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
chdir() | Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
dl() | This function is disabled when PHP is running in safe mode.
backtick operator | This function is disabled when PHP is running in safe mode.
shell_exec() (functional equivalent of backticks) | This function is disabled when PHP is running in safe mode.
exec() | You can only execute executables within the safe_mode_exec_dir. For practical reasons it's currently not allowed to have .. components in the path to the executable. escapeshellcmd() is executed on the argument of this function.
system() | You can only execute executables within the safe_mode_exec_dir. For practical reasons it's currently not allowed to have .. components in the path to the executable. escapeshellcmd() is executed on the argument of this function.
passthru() | You can only execute executables within the safe_mode_exec_dir. For practical reasons it's currently not allowed to have .. components in the path to the executable. escapeshellcmd() is executed on the argument of this function.
popen() | You can only execute executables within the safe_mode_exec_dir. For practical reasons it's currently not allowed to have .. components in the path to the executable. escapeshellcmd() is executed on the argument of this function.
fopen() | Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
mkdir() | Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
rmdir() | Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
rename() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
unlink() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
copy() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. (on `source` and `target`)
chgrp() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
chown() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
chmod() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. In addition, you cannot set the SUID, SGID and sticky bits
touch() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
symlink() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. (note: only the target is checked)
link() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. (note: only the target is checked)
apache_request_headers() | In safe mode, headers beginning with authorization (case-insensitive) will not be returned.
header() | In safe mode, the uid of the script is added to the realm part of the WWW-Authenticate header if you set this header (used for HTTP Authentication).
PHP_AUTH variables | In safe mode, the variables PHP_AUTH_USER, PHP_AUTH_PW, and AUTH_TYPE are not available in $_SERVER. Regardless, you can still use REMOTE_USER for the USER. (note: only affected since PHP 4.3.0)
highlight_file(), show_source() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
parse_ini_file() | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed.
set_time_limit() | Has no effect when PHP is running in safe mode.
max_execution_time | Has no effect when PHP is running in safe mode.
mail() | In safe mode, the fifth parameter is disabled.
session_start() | The owner of a script must be the same as owner of a session.save_path directory if the default files session.save_handler is used.
All filesystem and stream functions. | Checks whether the files or directories being operated upon have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. Checks whether the directory in which the script is operating has the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. (see the safe_mode_include_dir php.ini option.

Security and Safe Mode
Command line usage
Safe Mode
PHP Manual