#!/bin/bash PYTHON_SCRIPT=$(cat < Use code with caution. Critical Security Checklist
#!/bin/bash # 1. Download the mail to a temporary file fetchmail -n -p IMAP --mda "cat > mail.tmp" # 2. Extract the attachment using munpack munpack mail.tmp # 3. Cleanup rm mail.tmp Use code with caution. Method 3: The "No-Install" Way (Python Wrapper) shell script download email attachment
Sometimes you can't install extra binaries on a locked-down server. Since Python is pre-installed on almost every Linux distro, you can use a small Python "one-liner" inside your shell script to do the heavy lifting. Cleanup rm mail
Standard email protocols like and POP3 weren't exactly designed for easy command-line manipulation. While you can technically use curl to talk to an IMAP server, parsing a MIME-encoded email to extract a specific binary attachment is like trying to perform surgery with a sledgehammer. Standard email protocols like and POP3 weren't exactly
sudo apt-get install mutt # Ubuntu/Debian sudo yum install mutt # RHEL/CentOS Use code with caution. The Script Create a script named get_attachment.sh : Use code with caution. Method 2: The Precise Way (Using fetchmail + munpack )