send email to server to start shell script

bic · 12-03-2009, 03:20 PM

I want to be able to send an email to a user on a Redhat 4 box. Depending on the subject of the email, I want to that user to start a specific shell script.

I am thinking I would create a cron to read emails every 5 minutes using mail, if it finds the specific email subject it's looking for it would start the shell script. Is my assumption, using mail, correct? What else might I use?

rweaver · 12-03-2009, 03:47 PM

It would be fairly easy to parse the mail spool in perl or any variety of programs. I think you should build some verification into your program though if it's possible for the scripts to do anything you would NOT want done by a random stranger. Mail isn't tremendously secure.

DrLove73 · 12-03-2009, 04:30 PM

Better use "encrypted" text to send a command. Maybe use some password generator, and use several of those to trigger events. You could create a small script on the client end to translate your human readable commands to specific password like trigger.

Also take a look at expect+shh logging and issuing commands, that would be a better way.

unSpawn · 12-03-2009, 05:43 PM

The generic idea of a "mail to command" gateway is not new. Searching Freshmeat, Sourceforge, Non-gnu or Berlios for implementable SW should yield result(s).

chrism01 · 12-03-2009, 07:31 PM

It would be simpler to setup ssh auth_keys and then have src machine login to the target and run the cmd.

rweaver · 12-04-2009, 09:06 AM

You are correct it would be easier to setup with key'd ssh, however many phones aren't capable of doing that and email can be sent fairly easily from anywhere.