note 98162 added to function.exec

Problem: I could not get exec("myprogram.exe") to run a executable file. I could see the myprogram.exe launch into the Task Manager, but then the .php script would hang. I tried system(), and launching .bat files. Nothing worked. System: I'm running windows XP SP2, with Apache. Solution: Change the user associated with apache. The process httpd.exe was running as the user: SYSTEM. I changed it to run under a different user, (me). Now perhaps this isn't great for security, but it does work. To do this go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services. Find the Apache Service and stop it. Right click to bring up it's properties. Go to the LogOn tab And change the service to run under a different account. You have to add a password. It didn't work when I put it to an account without a password. Then restart the service Apache. Check in the task manager to see that httpd.exe is not running under the user SYSTEM but rather a new user with lots of privileges. Now exec(myprogram.exe) will launch and execute myprogram.exe. Maybe another user can tell me what security options I should use to keep this solution without sacrificing too much security. ---- Server IP: 69.147.83.197 Probable Submitter: 76.168.4.235 ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.exec.php Edit -- https://master.php.net/note/edit/98162 Del: integrated -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/98162/integrated Del: useless -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/98162/useless Del: bad code -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/98162/bad+code Del: spam -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/98162/spam Del: non-english -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/98162/non-english Del: in docs -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/98162/in+docs Del: other reasons-- https://master.php.net/note/delete/98162 Reject -- https://master.php.net/note/reject/98162 Search -- https://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php