How to execute a powershell script within C++? - c++

Question

The point of the whole program:
Pass in a username and password to elevate a user's privileges so that if they are not a user that is allowed to access a protected folder they can still open and view it. The username is mapped in a <map> which contains a key to their folder, it searches for their folder then passes it along with the username and password to do the real elevation in the following powershell script:
param(
    [string]$username,
    [string]$password,
    [string]$folder
    )
    Write-Host $username $password $folder
 
    $securePassword = ConvertTo-SecureString $password -AsPlainText -Force
    $credential = New-Object System.Management.Automation.PSCredential $username, $securePassword
    Start-Process T:\folders\Explorer++\Explorer++.exe \\foo\boo\fileserver\allusers\specialUsers\$folder -Credential $credential
I am passing in the username, password, and folder into this script through the use of System().
The c++ code to execute the script and pass in variables looks like this:
String^ runCommand(string folder, string username, string password)
{
string explorerpp = "\\\\foo\\boo\\examplefolder\\Explorer++\\EXPLORER++.exe";
string space = " ";
string quote = "\"";
string start = "C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\System Tools\\Windows Powershell";
string open = "open";
string domain = "domain\\";
string pwShell = "S:\\foo\\boo\\locationofscript\\pwShell.ps1 ";
string parentFolder = """\\\\foo\\boo\\folder\\Parent_folder\\special_users \\""";
string path = parentFolder + folder;
String^ dir = gcnew String(path.c_str());
string param = quote + domain+ username + quote + space + quote + password + quote + space + quote + folder + quote;
string command = "start powershell.exe" + space + pwShell + param;
system(command.c_str());
return dir;
}
Note: The code looks the way it does due to a massive amount of debugging, I understand that I am probably using a lot of un needed variables.
When ran through System() or _popen it either opens up a .txt containing a script or errors out on the command prompt.
If I were take what the value of string command is and paste it into a command prompt I would get the script running correctly and then opening the correct folder.
What is the issue with C++ that is not allowing the script to execute properly when the command prompt is executing everything correctly?
BIG EDIT:
The error I am getting is C:\OurProj\pwShell.ps1 : File C:\OurProj\pwshell.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system.
I did just talk to the IT guys, and I am able to run scripts on this system, tried to make everything local, and if I run the script through powershell it works.
EDIT 2:
I have changed the Execution Policy as has been suggested, and it does return RemoteSigned, however when the code executes in C++ I am still told that I have scripts disabled.

Answer 1

In one environment you can execute unsigned power shell scripts, but in another one you can't. 64-bit and 32-bit each have a separate execution policy for power shell. Most likely you're running on a 64-bit operating system and building a 32-bit C++ program (default for visual studio).
You can get to a 32-bit power shell by doing the following:
On the Start screen, type Windows PowerShell (x86). Run this as administrator.
Next run the command:
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
Now you should be able to run unsigned local power script files from a 32 bit environment on your computer.
From the start menu you can get to either PowerShell environment, be sure the same execution policy is set for both using the command:
Get-ExecutionPolicy