Run Bash Command from PHP

Question

I have a bash script, that I run like this via the command line:

./script.sh var1 var2

I am trying to execute the above command, after I call a certain php file.

What I have right now is:

$output = shell_exec("./script.sh var1 var2");
echo "<pre>$output</pre>";

But it doesn´t work. I tried it using exec and system too, but the script never got executed.

However when I try to run shell_exec("ls"); it does work and $output is a list of all files.

I am not sure whether this is because of a limitation of the VPS I am using or if the problem is somewhere else?

Is that bash script in the same directory as your PHP script? Is the php script's working directory that same directory as well? — Marc B
– Marc B, Commented Jun 15, 2012 at 14:07
Does your script have an appropriate interpreter header, and can you run it manually from your terminal? Like: #!/bin/bash — Robert K
– Robert K, Commented Jun 15, 2012 at 14:09

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 20:42:18Z

98

You probably need to chdir to the correct directory before calling the script. This way you can ensure what directory your script is "in" before calling the shell command.

$old_path = getcwd();
chdir('/my/path/');
$output = shell_exec('./script.sh var1 var2');
chdir($old_path);

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 20:42

CommunityBot

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answered Jun 15, 2012 at 14:18

Robert K

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5 Comments

r0skar Over a year ago

I think this did the trick! At least I got it working with a simple test script. To finally verify it, I have to wait for the server hoster to let me know the exact path to the scripts. I am gonna mark the answer now nevertheless. Thanks!

Dennis Williamson Over a year ago

@Andrej: Or use the absolute path to your script instead of a relative one.

Robert K Over a year ago

@Andrej If you're running PHP 5.3, you can use chdir(__DIR__) to change the directory to the directory containing the script. Or for PHP 5.2 or less, dirname(__FILE__) will do the trick.

r0skar Over a year ago

Thanks guys! It is working now. There has appeared a new problem, but this one is solved ;)

vhs Over a year ago

If you want to be pithy swap shell_exec out for the backtick operator.

Hrishikesh · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-15 14:18:00Z

5

Your shell_exec is executed by www-data user, from its directory. You can try

putenv("PATH=/home/user/bin/:" .$_ENV["PATH"]."");

Where your script is located in /home/user/bin Later on you can

$output = "<pre>".shell_exec("scriptname v1 v2")."</pre>";
echo $output;

To display the output of command. (Alternatively, without exporting path, try giving entire path of your script instead of just ./script.sh

answered Jun 15, 2012 at 14:18

Hrishikesh

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2 Comments

Robert K Over a year ago

It's a unnecessary to alter the PATH environment variable. The current working directory should be changed instead (see my answer).

Hrishikesh Over a year ago

True. Thanks. I was using the path settings in my code because I have various custom executables in more than one locations, and I wanted the input box to work as a console, so I can invoke any command from those. If it is to be used for just single file execution, we can anyway just use shell_exec('/entire/path/to/file/');

CommanderSpock · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-22 09:41:23Z

0

Check if have not set a open_basedir in php.ini or .htaccess of domain what you use. That will jail you in directory of your domain and php will get only access to execute inside this directory.

answered Sep 22, 2017 at 9:41

CommanderSpock

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