Running Shell Commands Via Text Message

In this article, we will explore how to run shell commands via text message using Python and Flask.

Prerequisites

In order to follow along with this tutorial, you will need to have the following installed on your machine:

• Python
• Flask
• A mobile phone with SMS capabilities

Setting Up a Flask App

First, we need to create a new Flask app. Open your favorite text editor and create a new file called app.py. In this file, we will define a route that listens for incoming text messages.

from flask import Flask, request 
import subprocess

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/sms', methods=['POST'])
def receive_sms():
    message = request.form['Body']
    result = subprocess.run(message, shell=True, capture_output=True)
    return result.stdout

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run()

Running the App

Save the app.py file and open a terminal. Navigate to the directory where the file is located and run the following command to start the Flask app:

$ python app.py

Your Flask app is now running and listening for incoming text messages on the route /sms.

Testing the App

Now that the app is running, you can test it by sending a text message to the phone number associated with the mobile device. The body of the text message should contain the shell command that you want to execute.

Security Considerations

It’s important to note that allowing remote execution of shell commands via text message can pose serious security risks. Always be cautious and make sure that your app has proper authentication and authorization mechanisms in place.

Conclusion

In this article, we learned how to run shell commands via text message using Python and Flask. While this can be a convenient way to remotely execute commands, it’s important to be mindful of the security implications and take appropriate precautions.