Execute python in a php script using shell_exec()

Question

I'm experiencing a weird problem in trying to execute python in a php server (LAMP). (safe_mode off)

if I type:

$output = shell_exec("ls -lah");
echo "<pre>$Output</pre>";

I got the result of the ls command. Same for$output = shell_exec("tar --version"); and other applications, such as gzip.

However, if I switch for any of these lines:

$output = shell_exec("python --version");
$output = shell_exec("python2.7 --version");
$output = shell_exec("/usr/bin/python --version");
$output = shell_exec("python my_script.py");

And other variants of this kind, I get no results. The command is not being executed, the python bitecode not made and the echo remains silent.

I have also tried with the exec() command with no more success.

I've read this post in detail as many other, i didn't find any answer there — Cyrille
– Cyrille, Commented Sep 10, 2013 at 14:44
stackoverflow.com/questions/18689684/… This could be a answer for this. — user966588
– user966588, Commented Oct 9, 2013 at 14:27

JDCartee · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-06 19:10:54Z

11

I think this may help...

looks like the output for the python call needs to be routed properly. I was able to make this work within my index.php file for returning the python version...

shell_exec("python -V 2>&1");

Here is where I found the answer.

answered Oct 6, 2013 at 19:10

JDCartee

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2 Comments

Raynal Gobel Over a year ago

I also had the same error with pdftk. But it explains why. "/opt/lampp/lib/libstdc++.so.6: version `GLIBCXX_3.4.9' not found (required by pdftk)". This may be the case with python? Let me experiment a bit..

Bitfool Over a year ago

Worked for me too, but specifically for me, running in shared hosting managed with CPanel. My py scripts are below the /public_html root, and using $out = shell_exec('python ../pyscr/script.py '.param1.' 2>&1'); puts the print values from script.py into $out.

ConcurrentHashMap · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-02 07:15:36Z

1

If you are trying to run the python script using the following code

$output = shell_exec("python my_script.py");

you will need to use absolute path for my_script.py and give all permissions (I am not sure which ones are sufficient) for the python file.

edited Jul 2, 2014 at 7:15

ConcurrentHashMap

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answered Jul 2, 2014 at 6:49

Chaithanya

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Comments

Kamoly · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-06 19:10:20Z

1

I think you need to refer to the full path for your python.

for example use this instead:

$output = shell_exec("/usr/bin/python full_path/my_script.py")

instead of:

$output = shell_exec("python my_script.py");

answered Mar 6, 2017 at 19:10

Kamoly

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theartist33 · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-10 14:07:56Z

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I think kernel not able to find the path for python where it is installed..if you can do echo $PATH..it will show all the paths where to be search a command if given add your python part there and then it may work or you can give absolute path(other than /usr/bin/) see if it works..I need to test it too.

answered Sep 10, 2013 at 14:07

theartist33

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2 Comments

theartist33 Over a year ago

it is also possible that ls and gzip are working because these are system commands..what you are using is exclusive or other command..will let you know once I test it on my hp ux box

Cyrille Over a year ago

Hi! Thanks for your fast reply! I have tried echo $PATH /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/share/java/apache-ant/bin:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl The python interpreter is located in the /usr/bin/ so it should find it, no?

Phil Perry · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-10 16:52:35Z

0

What does

which python

tell you, both from the command line and from shell_exec()? It should tell you which (if any) Python interpreter it's finding (from $PATH). Don't forget that it's quite possible that the $PATH used from the Linux command line might not be the same as the $PATH used by shell_exec()! Once you find the Python interpreter you want to use, you might have to hard code it in the shell_exec().

answered Sep 10, 2013 at 16:52

Phil Perry

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2 Comments

Cyrille Over a year ago

Hi Phil! which python gives exactely the same answer from both the command line and php: /usr/bin/python. The problem may not come from this...

Cyrille Over a year ago

BTW, shell_exec('echo $PATH'); gives the same answer in the console and the terminal: /usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:32:02Z

0

Most likely the web server doesn't have appropriate rights to execute shell commands. To fix this, run the 'sudo visudo' command and add the following line to the sudoers file:

www-data ALL=NOPASSWD: ALL

Also, make sure that the /var/www directory belongs to the www-data user and group (use sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www to set the correct owner). The details are here http://www.raspberry-pi-geek.com/Archive/2014/07/PHP-on-Raspberry-Pi

Also refer Can't execute python script from php

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:32

CommunityBot

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answered Jan 24, 2016 at 9:52

Suresh Jaiswal

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