How to add user to Linux via Python script?

Question

I've been trying to run Linux terminal commands via a Python script, and I can't seem to do anything with what I've found so far.

This is what I've done so far:

import os
import crypt

def addnewuser():

    uname=raw_input("Select Username")
    upass=raw_input("Select Password")

    #The encryption module seems to solve the obvious security leak,
    #but I still don't know whether even the exposed encrypted password is safe or not.
    ucrypt=crypt.crypt(upass,"123")
    os.system("useradd -m -p "+upass+" "+uname)

addnewuser()

This has been asked before, but I can't seem to find a solution, because whenever I run the script, nothing changes when I try to display all user when I'm typing

compgen -u

on the terminal.

Update 1: I want to make the process secure, and I've found that I can protect the sudo password from being recorded in the terminal history by using the stdout file. How can I write there with python to create users?

Update 2: I have managed to avoid some security leaks by encrypting the user password by using the encryption module in my code. But if the intruder has the encrypted password, isn't it the same thing?

The main purpose of this is for me to learn how to develop adminstration tools, preferrably in Python.

I use Python 2.7, as well as PythonIDLE, on Ubuntu 16.04.

Thank you for your help.

I can't seem to find anything on how to run root commands from the script. I've tried to run it both while I was logged as normal and root user, but it doesn't seem to make a difference — Themistoklis Gkasios
– Themistoklis Gkasios, Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 4:08
I might not have asked correctly; I think i'll edit the question before expecting answers. — Themistoklis Gkasios
– Themistoklis Gkasios, Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 4:12

rth · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-20 04:15:14Z

0

One of the very dirty solution is to run

os.system("sudo useradd -m -p "+upass+" "+uname)

and add to /etc/sudoers

user ALL=NOPASSWD: useradd

where user is the name of user which runs your script.

AGAIN IT IS VERY UNSAFE and HIGHLY NOT RECOMENDED

answered Mar 20, 2017 at 4:15

rth

3,1461 gold badge24 silver badges28 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

7 Comments

Themistoklis Gkasios Over a year ago

I understand that it is unsafe; I'm trying to make it happen for a first milestone.

rth Over a year ago

There are two big problems: (1) you give the root access to user which run network server; (2) you pass password as command line argument. I would suggest to rethink your application and keep everything inside python.

Themistoklis Gkasios Over a year ago

For starters, I 'm thinking about using the stdin or stdout (still figuring out which one) to avoid having the sudo pass recorded in the terminal history.

Themistoklis Gkasios Over a year ago

I've found this as resource on where to input the sudo password

rth Over a year ago

you can try to use subprocess module to organize stdin/stdout pipes... but it should not work, because I afraid, useradd should read directly from tty device.

|

Codebling · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-13 02:17:30Z

0

For my application, what I needed was a way to run sudo commands over a python script.

This answer is basically what I was looking for.

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

edited Mar 13, 2020 at 2:17

Codebling

11.5k3 gold badges45 silver badges71 bronze badges

answered Mar 20, 2017 at 13:19

Themistoklis Gkasios

361 gold badge1 silver badge11 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to add user to Linux via Python script?

2 Answers 2

7 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

7 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related