How do i dynamically edit and update my etc/hosts file using php script

Question

I am trying to dynamically edit and update my /etc/hosts using the below php code

$string_Data = 'It works success!!';
$file_To_Edit = "/etc/hosts";
exec("sudo chmod 777 /etc/hosts");
$opened_File = file($file_To_Edit) or die("Error. Code:2 - Can not open file $file_To_Edit");
$lines = preg_grep(' /test.com/', $opened_File);
   foreach(array_keys($lines) as $key) {
       $opened_File[$key] = substr($opened_File[$key], 0, -1) . $string_Data;
  }
$f = fopen($file_To_Edit, 'w') or die("Error $file_To_Edit"); 
fwrite($f, implode("\n", $opened_File)); 
fclose($f);

Can anyone tell me where am i going wrong, since i am not able to update the /etc/hosts file.

I think you need run this script as root and something like exec("sudo chmod 777 /etc/hosts"); is security issue IMHO — DevMed
– DevMed, Commented Nov 21, 2013 at 10:18

Vaibhav Jain · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-21 10:19:59Z

1

//suppose you are in  /var/www/html/website/

$currentdir=getcwd();  // it will save your current directory location    

chdir('../../../../etc/');  // it will change your web directory( /var/www/html/website/)  to etc directory (/etc/)

$file='hosts';
$current=file_get_contents($file);
$string_Data = 'It works success!!';
$current.=$string_Data;
if(file_put_contents($file, $current))
{
echo "success in writing";
}
else
{
echo "fail in writing";
}

chdir("$currentdir"); // it will change directory (/etc/) to your web directory( /var/www/html/website/ )

//change permission before run php page because if your user don't have permission this code can't do writing

answered Nov 21, 2013 at 10:19

Vaibhav Jain

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2 Comments

Eric Bishard Over a year ago

I wish someone who down votes would provide explanation why this is wrong. Obviously the poster put thought into it and it worked for him, now I have to trial and error to see if it works?

Masud Sarker Over a year ago

@vaibhav your code is working for such directory which does not need administrative rights. But for host file editing you need administrative rights to open host file or change chdir('../../../../Windows/System32/drivers/etc/'); directory. Can help me which code I can use to access '/etc/' location for windows?

Mantas · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-21 10:12:00Z

1

You need root rights to modify /etc/hosts file

answered Nov 21, 2013 at 10:12

Mantas

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