Run python subprocess(es) as another user

subprocessdemote.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

import os
import subprocess

# > python subprocessdemote.py
# > sudo python subprocessdemote.py


def check_username():
	"""Check who is running this script"""

	print os.getuid()
	print os.getgid()


def check_id():
	"""Run the command 'id' in a subprocess, return the result"""

	cmd = ['id']
	return subprocess.check_output(cmd)


def check_id_as_user():
	"""Run the command 'id' in a subprocess as user 1000,
	return the result"""

	cmd = ['id']
	return subprocess.check_output(cmd, preexec_fn=demote(1000, 1000))


def demote(user_uid, user_gid):
	"""Pass the function 'set_ids' to preexec_fn, rather than just calling
	setuid and setgid. This will change the ids for that subprocess only"""

	def set_ids():
		os.setgid(user_gid)
		os.setuid(user_uid)

	return set_ids


if __name__=='__main__':

	check_username()

	print check_id()
	print check_id_as_user()
	print check_id()