PHP background script can't access temporary file from upload

Question

I have a PHP script which receives an upload and defers processing of that upload to a background script via shell_exec().

But the background script can't seem to access the temporary file of the upload.

Receiver script

$file_loc = $_FILES['file']['tmp_name'];
echo $file_loc.' exists = '.file_exists($file_loc);
shell_exec('php background.php -i='.$file_loc.' >report.txt &');

This outputs

{path to file} exists = 1

Background.php

$args = getopt('i:');
$file_loc = $args['i'];
echo $file_loc.' exists = '.file_exists($file_loc);

In result.txt I get

{path to file} exists =

i.e. doesn't exist. What do I need to do to allow the background script to access the tmp file location?

If the `$args['i']` is indeed correct, then it sounds like an issue related to `clearstatcache` — The Coprolal, Nov 12 '18 at 13:22
Hi, apparently the `$_FILES['file']['tmp_name']` is deleted before the command is executed. — Ermac, Nov 12 '18 at 13:29
Try to look up the file manually. Can you find it using the shell? — Lithilion, Nov 12 '18 at 13:36

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 12 '18 at 13:40

1

You should move the uploaded file to a new destination to process the file.

$destination = "FOLDER_NAME/".$_FILES['file']['tmp_name'];
$file_loc = $_FILES['file']['tmp_name'];
move_uploaded_file ( $file_loc, $destination )
echo $destination.' exists = '.file_exists($destination);
shell_exec('php background.php -i='.$destination.' >report.txt &');

answered Nov 12 '18 at 13:40

Lithilion

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Thanks. I did consider this but I wanted to first check if this was the only option. – Mitya Nov 12 '18 at 13:50
Maybe you should rewrite your question then? – Lithilion Nov 12 '18 at 13:52

PHP background script can't access temporary file from upload

1 Answers1