note 98162 deleted from function.exec by visualmind

Note Submitter: pyesley at yahoo dot co dot uk 

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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.