PHP calling python script and not returning result

Question

I've got a simple PHP script that is using shell_exec to call a python script which should return the result "ok"

I can't seem to get this working - nothing is returned via the php file. I can run a python script from the CLI and it works, and also run shell_exec to rn other functions and that works. So its something specific to python which I can't work out.

test.py:

 #!/usr/bin/python3

import sys

id = sys.argv[1:]
#Do some stuff wih id

#Return success
sys.exit("ok")

index.php

<?php

$command = escapeshellcmd('/root/bin/tracker/test.py');
$output = shell_exec($command);
echo $output;

//This works
//$output = shell_exec("cat /etc/os-release");
//echo $output;
?>

Running /root/bin/tracker/test.py returns:

ok

I've tried setting ownership of test.py to www:www-run and also checked +x permissions.

This is running on SLES 15.1 PHP 7.2.5 Apache 2.4.33

Try adding the path to the python executable as well. Something like: /path/to/python /root/bin/tracker/test.py. — M. Eriksson
– M. Eriksson, Commented Mar 7, 2021 at 10:44
Still not luck. Tried adding: $output = shell_exec("/usr/bin/python3 /root/bin/tracker/test.py"); — Greg
– Greg, Commented Mar 7, 2021 at 10:45
sys.exit("ok") indicates an error, according to the docs shell_exec returns null when a error occurs. Use sys.exit(0) for success. — Maurice Meyer
– Maurice Meyer, Commented Mar 7, 2021 at 11:02
Thanks just for testing. Looks like some permissions issue as when I run php index.php it works, but not from the browser — Greg
– Greg, Commented Mar 7, 2021 at 11:03

Greg · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-07 11:19:54Z

3

Found the issue. Adding 2>&1 to the shell_exec clearly shows the error.

$output = shell_exec("/usr/bin/python3 /root/bin/tracker/test.py 2>&1");

[Errno 13] Permission denied

I moved the test.py file out of the root folder and into /srv/www/htdocs and its working fine now.

answered Mar 7, 2021 at 11:19

Greg

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1 Comment

nalka Over a year ago

I think you should accept your answer if it fixes your problem

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