Re: CGI binaries for HTML+ forms...

Christopher Fraser (chrisf@nospam.sour.sw.oz.au)
Thu, 2 Mar 1995 12:55:11 +1100 (EST)

But I thought Paul Mclachlan said:
>
>
> Uhm... I'm trying to get the POST method working for a forms
> submission... but I keep getting error 501 (can't send to a
> non-script).
>
> On further examination I believe this is mainly because the
> executable program has to be flagged as a CGI script somewhere.
> Apparently if it is placed in the correct directory, or if that
> directory is flagged or... something...

I think it's /usr/local/etc/httpd/conf/access.conf which specifies which
bits of the server namespace are allowed to have CGI scripts in them.
Currently it's just /cgi-bin (which resides in /usr/local/etc/httpd/cgi-bin).

> Anyway... I've been referred to play with some config file for the
> server... or something like that... I don't even know where it is -
> and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to play with it without
> harassing someone... :)
>
> Now... I know *someone* out there knows how to do this (cause I
> looked - the automatic ftoomsh account registration works the same
> way)...
>
> if ya want to perk up and give me a hint, I'd be very appreciative :)

I'd suggest mailing Andrew (or rather ``system'') and see if he would be
prepared to set up another cgi-bin directory and give you permission to put
stuff in it.

Alternatively, you could run your own server and play around with it
instead. Have a look at /home/chrisf/httpd. It'll require some fiddling
around to work for you, but basicly to start the server
use /usr/local/etc/httpd/httpd -f /home/chrisf/httpd.conf.

Note that if you're not careful your CGI scripts could (potentially) allow
anyone on the net to run any command on the system (or retrieve any file
etc).

Christopher.