Ubuntu – Specify password for sudo in script

bashscriptssudo

I am making a script that will update my system (and do some other things, but that doesn't matter). I want the script to run sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get dist-upgrade --yes automatically. I use –yes so I won't have to choose yes when it runs; it upgrades all packages automatically without me having to do anything. That said, I want to put my password in the script somehow so I won't have to type in my password when I run it either, probably with an argument or something. You know, something I can put at the end like sudo apt-get update --passwd MYPASSWORDHERE. I have tried that and it doesn't work, but that's an example of what I want. What argument (–passwd or –password or something) do I put at the end to do this?

Best Answer

Sudo doesn't behave that way, for security reasons. You can echo the password to sudo using the -s option, but I don't suggest it. Even if you protect your script from other users, they can still see your parameters using e.g. ps -ef.

I think your problem is better solved by installing the unattended-upgrades package.

Using wildcards in the sudoers file

In the sudoers file, you can use wildcards (*), thus creating the possibility to run a script with arguments.

An example

I tested it with a shockingly simple python script. In the sudoers file I had to use the absolute path to python: /usr/bin/python in the line of the sudoers file:

jacob ALL=NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/python /home/jacob/Bureaublad/pscript_1.py*

Then my (python script) code was:

#!/usr/bin/python

import sys

s1 = sys.argv[1]
s2 = sys.argv[2]

print(s1)
print(s2)

Then I ran in a terminal:

~$ sudo python '/home/jacob/Bureaublad/pscript_1.py' monkey banana
 monkey
 banana

without asking for my password.

Similarly, you should be able to achieve what you want by adding the following line to the sudoers file:

<your_username> ALL=NOPASSWD: /path/to/java <your_script>*

And run the script by:

sudo java <script> <args>

and you will not be asked for your password.

More information

An interesting source on how to use the sudoers file might be this one.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – Run script with arguments as sudo without being asked for password

Using wildcards in the sudoers file

An example

More information

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