[Errno 13]:Permission Denied when trying to edit the hosts file with a script in .ps1, in .py and in .bat. Hosts file with full permission to edit

Question

I want to edit the hosts file with a script that will run from the Windows Task Scheduler, but even granting elevated permissions to this script, when it tries to edit the hosts file, access is denied ([Errno 13]:Permission Denied). I created a script in PowerShell (ps1), in Python (py) and a .bat script and they all give access denied.

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But when I run the ps1 script in PowerShell ISE as administrator it can edit the hosts file. When I run the python script in Pycharm in Debug mode it can edit the hosts file.

POWERSHELL:
$bloqueado = $false

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force
Write-Host (Get-ExecutionPolicy)

$caminhoHosts = "$env:SystemRoot\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"
Add-Content -Path $caminhoHosts -Value "teste"

while ($true) {
    # Get a list of active RDP sessions
    $rdpSessions = quser | Where-Object { $_ -match 'rdp' }

    if ($rdpSessions) {
        if (-not $bloqueado) {
            Write-Host "VPN LIGADA"

            $textoAdicional1 = "127.0.0.1    x."
            $textoAdicional3 = "127.0.0.1    xx"
            $textoAdicional5 = "127.0.0.1    xxx"
            $textoAdicional6 = "127.0.0.1    xxxx"

            Add-Content -Path $caminhoHosts -Value "$textoAdicional1`r`n$textoAdicional3`r`n$textoAdicional5`r`n$textoAdicional6"

            $nomesNavegadores = @("chrome", "firefox", "iexplore", "msedge", "opera")
            foreach ($nome in $nomesNavegadores) {
                Stop-Process -Name $nome -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
            }

            $bloqueado = $true
        }
    }

    else {
        Write-Host "VPN DESLIGADA"

        if ($bloqueado) {
            $linhas = Get-Content -Path $caminhoHosts

            foreach ($indiceLinha in 0..($linhas.Count - 1)) {
                $linha = $linhas[$indiceLinha]
                if ($linha -match "x|x|x") {
                    $linhas = $linhas | Where-Object { $_ -ne $linha }
                }
                elseif($linha -match "x|x|x"){
                    $linhas = $linhas | Where-Object { $_ -ne $linha }
                }
            }

            $linhas | Set-Content -Path $caminhoHosts

            $bloqueado = $false
        }
    }

    Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
}```

Python:

hosts_path = r"C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"

with open(hosts_path, "a") as hosts_file:
    hosts_file.write(f"\n127.0.0.1 eae.com") ```

• I've already changed the permissions on the hosts file, so everything is now clear.
• I've already edited the PowerShell execution policy to "Unrestricted" and "Bypass", but also without success.
• I have already created an executable with the PowerShell and Python script, but it also gives access to hosts denied.
• In the task scheduler the task is to run with higher privileges.
• I disabled Windows UAC too.

Answer 1

By adding Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force at the beginning of the script, temporarily change the PowerShell execution policy.

Wrap your scripts with a PowerShell command to run as an administrator:

PowerShell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "& {Start-Process 
PowerShell -ArgumentList '-NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File 
\"your_script_path.ps1\"' -Verb RunAs}"

These methods will help you overcome permission access problems.