how to execute a .exe program by php script

Question

I want to execute a .exe file on my Apache server using a php script. the procedure is as follow:

1. user comes, fills a html form

2. it goses to a php script

3. php script executes the name.exe file

4. php prints the output of the name.exe file on the page.

I execute the name.exe normally from windows like this:

run--> cmd--> D:\name [command]

the name.exe needs to communicate with other files like libraries in the same directory.

the complete comand in cmd at windows is like this:

D:\name library.dll [input from user]

then program executes and prints some results in cmd window.

I actually want to run this program on my server form my clients. I don't know how, but I now there is a way to do this.

Another related question, is there any shell that I can install on Linux server and execute name.exe in it?

Answer 1

Please rethink your solution as this will likely create more problems (particularly security issues) than it solves. By having a PHP script execute your program you run the danger of a user entering the following into your form:

John Doe; rm \windows\*

or

John Doe; rm d:\name\*

You want to limit user input to a very controlled subset so that you won't get malicious command injection.

PHP does provide an exec() but be very careful.