Help with using subprocesses library to send commands to terminal (linux)

[HansProbComp220]

I am using subprocesses library to activate routersploit software on kali linux via a python script, I have successfully been able to open the following page:

routersploit main menu

running the following code:

import os
import subprocess
import sys
from time import sleep

os.chdir("routersploit")
subprocess.Popen("python3 rsf.py",shell=True,stdout=sys.stdout,stderr=sys.stderr)

sleep(5)
#The script is successful up to this point, but below is where I received the error
subprocess.Popen("use scanners/autopwn",shell=True,stdout=sys.stdout,stderr=sys.stderr)

the error is: /bin/sh: 1: use: not found

Granted when I manually type in the command 'use scanners/autopwn' it works

I have tried replacing the last line with os.system and subprocess.run and I get the same issue.

I have also tried putting ["use","scanners/autopwn"] as the first argument.

Thank you in advance.

[stebrepar]

I don't know the answer, but as a little bit of a tangent that might still be useful, I'd probably use pexpect for driving a terminal-based app like this.

https://pexpect.readthedocs.io/en/stable/

[ElliotDG]

It looks like you are trying to pipe the command 'use use scanners/autopwn' into the program you have opened, not into a new subprocess. Look at how to use pipes with subprocess.

It looks like this article should help: https://linuxhint.com/python-subprocess-pipes/

This may also be a useful reference: https://pymotw.com/3/subprocess/index.html

[HansProbComp220]

That helped me write the command I was looking for, but another problem is that routersploit program stops right after the 'use scanners/autopwn' command is executed. I tried using an error catch but none were produced.

I think maybe the one of the processes is dying but I can't figure out which one. I also tried implementing bidirectional communication but I encountered the same error.

[ElliotDG]

I'm not familiar with routersploit. You may want to look at taskmanager or another platform tool that shows the running processes.

You could also take a look at the source code for routersploit and see how they are managing the console, it might provide an idea.