README.md

ssh-askpass (for Mac OS X)

Author: Mark Carver
Created: 2011-09-14
Licensed under GPL 3.0

Based off script from author: Joseph Mocker, Sun Microsystems http://blogs.oracle.com/mock/entry/and_now_chicken_of_the

If you've gotten this error:

    remote: ssh_askpass: exec(/usr/libexec/ssh-askpass): No such file or directory

Then you probably need this script. Mac OS X does not prompt for a password outside of Terminal when connecting via SSH (for security reasons). This script grants any application the ability to prompt the user for a password via an AppleScript dialog.

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Usage

1. You can install this script using the INSTALL file included with the download (easiest/automatic)
   1. Open Terminal /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app
   2. Type sudo`` (with the space at the end)
   3. Drag the INSTALL file onto Terminal and press return
   4. Enter your password

2. You can install this script manually:
   1. Copy the source code located below
   2. Open Terminal /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app
   3. Type sudo vi /usr/libexec/ssh-askpass
   4. Enter your password
   5. Type i to go into edit mode
   6. Press ⌘v to paste the code
   7. Press esc to go out of edit mode
   8. Type : then w and press return to write the file
   9. Type : then x and press return to exit vi
   10. Type sudo chmod +rx /usr/libexec/ssh-askpass to make the script executable
   11. Test the script! Type /usr/libexec/ssh-askpass

NOTE: You must run as root or precede the commands with sudo when using INSTALL or vi. The directory /usr/libexec is owned by root.

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Notes

If you plan on manually installing this script, please note that you will have to set the following variable for SSH to recognize where the script is located:

export SSH_ASKPASS="/path/to/ssh-askpass"

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Source

#!/bin/bash
# Script: ssh-askpass
# Author: Mark Carver
# Created: 2011-09-14
# Licensed under GPL 3.0

# A ssh-askpass command for Mac OS X
# Based from author: Joseph Mocker, Sun Microsystems
# http://blogs.oracle.com/mock/entry/and_now_chicken_of_the

# To use this script:
#   Install this script running INSTALL as root
#
# If you plan on manually installing this script, please note that you will have
# to set the following variable for SSH to recognize where the script is located:
#   export SSH_ASKPASS="/path/to/ssh-askpass"

TITLE="${SSH_ASKPASS_TITLE:-SSH}";
TEXT="$(whoami)'s password:";
IFS=$(printf "\n");
CODE=("on GetCurrentApp()");
CODE=(${CODE[*]} "tell application \"System Events\" to get short name of first process whose frontmost is true");
CODE=(${CODE[*]} "end GetCurrentApp");
CODE=(${CODE[*]} "tell application GetCurrentApp()");
CODE=(${CODE[*]} "activate");
CODE=(${CODE[*]} "display dialog \"${@:-$TEXT}\" default answer \"\" with title \"${TITLE}\" with icon caution with hidden answer");
CODE=(${CODE[*]} "text returned of result");
CODE=(${CODE[*]} "end tell");
SCRIPT="/usr/bin/osascript"
for LINE in ${CODE[*]}; do
    SCRIPT="${SCRIPT} -e $(printf "%q" "${LINE}")";
done;
eval "${SCRIPT}";