What are good alternatives to safe shelling out (system, open |- , IPC::Run), and how do they compare?

There are several alternatives to safe shelling out in Perl, notably using built-in CPAN modules and high-level abstractions that allow for more secure and efficient process management. Here are some of the most notable alternatives:

  • IPC::Run3: This module allows you to run external commands while capturing their output and is safer than simple system calls.
  • IPC::Run::SafeSys: A variation of IPC::Run, this module provides additional security when executing commands.
  • Proc::Background: This module lets you run commands in the background, managing the child processes without exposing your code to shell injection risks.
  • IPC::Open3: This module allows you to interact with stdin, stdout, and stderr of an external program, providing more flexibility.

These alternatives provide various levels of control and safety compared to traditional shelling out methods. They help mitigate the risks associated with shell injection and enhance your program's reliability.

Example Using IPC::Run3

use IPC::Run3; my $input = "input data"; my $output; run3 ['your_command', 'arg1', 'arg2'], \$input, \$output, \*STDERR; print "Command Output: $output\n";

alternatives safe shelling out Perl IPC::Run IPC::Run3 process management security