exec() has been disabled for security reasons
 

Does anybody know exactly what this means?

Is it a script malfunction or has my host actually done something without telling me?

Thanks,
Cedric

That means your server has disabled that function in php settings, if I remember correctly.

Yes, Danny is correct, and furthermore, they should.

Oh, why is that?

Well, as said in the error, security reasons. It could potentially let any user on that server to execute any shell command.

That is too simple. If the host has configured the server properly, then allowing exec() should not be a security problem as each client on the server should only have permissions to access his own files.

It only becomes a security issue if the permissions on the server are not set correct.