PHP script downloads PDFs but not images (PNG/JPG) from files located outside the root

My PHP script has difficulty downloading PNG and JPG images from a folder (outside of the root), resulting in corrupted files. PDF files, on the other hand, can be downloaded without issues. I have confirmed that the files exist, have the correct MIME types (image/png and image/jpeg), and are not empty (file size not empty).

The files also exist in the uploads folder, and I can open them with preview tools, etc., so the file in the server works as intended, and I suspect I set my headers wrong.

The file download gets triggered when the file is clicked that starts a page load with GET parameters (I'm using a front controller)

container.addEventListener('click', () => {

    // ... Get the user id and file name ...

    // Construct the URL to the PHP script that gets the correct file
    const open = `/view/?user=${user}&file=${file}&open=true`;

    // Open in a new page (used for inline, not attachments)
    window.open(open, '_blank');
});

My view file:

// Make sure the user is authenticated...

// If download, user, and file parameters are set, download the file:
if(isset($_GET['open']) && isset($_GET['user']) && isset($_GET['file'])){
    if(!Files::open($_GET['file'], $_GET['user'])){
        Report::error("Error");
    }

    Report::success("Success");
    exit();
}

My Files::open() function:

/**
 * Open a requested file.
 * 
 * @param string $file
 * The file to open.
 * 
 * @param string $folder
 * The folder where the file is located.
 * 
 * @return bool
 * True if the file was opened successfully, false otherwise.
 */
public static function open(string $file, string $folder = ''): bool {

    // Path to the file, this currently only picks
    // files from the uploads folder:
    $path = dirname(__DIR__, 2) . "/uploads/$folder/$file";
    Report::notice("Opening the file '$file' from the '$folder' folder.");

    // If the file does not exist, return false:
    if (!file_exists($path)) {
        Report::warning("The file '$file' does not exist in the '$folder' folder.");
        return false;
    }

    // Create a new Fileinfo object:
    $finfo = new finfo(FILEINFO_MIME_TYPE);

    // Get the mime type:
    $mime = $finfo->file($path);

    // Get the mime type:
    Report::notice("The mime type of the file '$file' is '$mime'.");

    // Set the headers (usually inline, attachment for testing):
    header("Content-Type: $mime");
    header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=$file");
    header("Content-Length: " . filesize($path));

    // Read the file
    readfile($path);

    // Return true:
    return true;
}

Any ideas about what could be causing the issue?

source https://stackoverflow.com/questions/76209097/php-script-downloads-pdfs-but-not-images-png-jpg-from-files-located-outside-th