php system() and exec() not returning anything

Hi there
Hmmm, I'm just hitting a wall right now. I created a little php script and need to do a whois lookup.
I thought of using exec() but nothing was returned. Then I tried system() with same result.
The weird thing is, I don't get any errors or log entries.
Using current ISPC and site is set - due to nostalgia - to suPHP.

Any ideas?

Addon: Interestingly, having a script on the server with just

Code:

<?php

$w = exec("whois 8.8.8.8");
echo $w;

?>

runs fine when I log into the server and su myself to the according webXX user and run the script from the cli.

 

I tested now fcgi and then it just miraculously worked. I guess it has to do with apache 2.4.10. I worked fine with 2.2 as far as I can remember.