Shell Command in PHP file : Display the content of a file in a webpage

Question

I need some help, how can I execute a shell command in a php file? on how to display the content of a file in a webpage.

I tested this script, it works

<?php
$output = shell_exec('ls /var/www/vhosts/resame');
echo "<pre>$output</pre>";
?>

but this script, did not display anything.

<?php
$output = shell_exec('cat /var/log/mail.log');
echo "<pre>$output</pre>";
?>

Answer 1

Run this command first (based on your apache user)

CHMOD 777 /var/log/mail.log

If apache user is nobody CHOWN nobody /var/log/mail.log

If apache user is www-data CHOWN www-data /var/log/mail.log

Then use the following to display data on the web page.

<?php
$output = shell_exec('cat /var/log/mail.log 2>&1');
echo "<pre>$output</pre>";
?>