However, this is a perl CGI script running on IIS and it won't let me do that for security reasons. Therefore, I need to do it through Perl. Can this be done?

What makes you think that a Perl script would be able to do it, if the system utilities can not? The Perl script would be running under the same user ID and so be subject to the same restrictions.

Let me say that having your webserver grant Everyone execute permissions on (presumably uploaded) files seems like a recipe for disaster. If you do this, and get hacked as a result, be it on your own head. You are warned!

Like you, I've had trouble with both the modules you tried. They do not preserve the explicit ordering of ACLs. Ie: 

Explicit denials
Explicit grants
Inherited denials
Inherited grants

[download]

Unless you arrange to do this yourself in your perl code, that can cause significant troubles. Even cacls.exe got that wrong! (X|I)cacls get that right for you.

If you really need to have this initiated by the CGI, then I would seriously consider writing a "permissions server" that: opens a port; only accepted connections from the local host; runs under an account/group with just enough authority to run (X|I)cacls to achieve your needs.

But once again, please think very carefully about granting execute permissions to uploaded files.

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

In reply to Re^3: Modifying NTFS File Permissions by BrowserUk
in thread Modifying NTFS File Permissions by Anonymous Monk

Title:
Use:  <p> text here (a paragraph) </p>
and:  <code> code here </code>
to format your post, it's "PerlMonks-approved HTML":


  • Posts are HTML formatted. Put <p> </p> tags around your paragraphs. Put <code> </code> tags around your code and data!
  • Titles consisting of a single word are discouraged, and in most cases are disallowed outright.
  • Read Where should I post X? if you're not absolutely sure you're posting in the right place.
  • Please read these before you post! —
  • Posts may use any of the Perl Monks Approved HTML tags:
    a, abbr, b, big, blockquote, br, caption, center, col, colgroup, dd, del, details, div, dl, dt, em, font, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, hr, i, ins, li, ol, p, pre, readmore, small, span, spoiler, strike, strong, sub, summary, sup, table, tbody, td, tfoot, th, thead, tr, tt, u, ul, wbr
  • You may need to use entities for some characters, as follows. (Exception: Within code tags, you can put the characters literally.)
            For:     Use:
    & &amp;
    < &lt;
    > &gt;
    [ &#91;
    ] &#93;
  • Link using PerlMonks shortcuts! What shortcuts can I use for linking?
  • See Writeup Formatting Tips and other pages linked from there for more info.