Shell Script security
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Completely reset the environment

# Completely reset the calling users environment
PATH=/usr/sbin:/bin
export PATH
unset `env | grep -v -- '^PATH=' | sed 's/=.*//'`
cd /; umask 022


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> I would like to run a shell script which will ask me for the root's password
> before allowing me to do some other administrative tasks.  Once a correct
> password is entered, the script will go on executing the next command
> (instead of starting a root shell).  When all tasks are done, it will
> automatically log out of root shell and continue with the rest of the
> script.  Can someone please tell me if this is possible to achieve.  If so,
> how can it be done?  Or is it too risky?

It's allways risky, but OK, here goes:

# first part of script here, say start up things, etc....
# next you want to do things in root
su root <<EOF!
# place commands to be executed under root here
EOF!
# place more normal commands here...

This will prompt for the root password, and only continue after the 
password has been entered. If an incorrect password is given, the script
just continues execution of the commands that occur after the EOF! line.

--Ralph Moonen --- cooper@cbnewsg.cb.att.com

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