diff --git a/secrets/external.go b/secrets/external.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c817ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/secrets/external.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+// Copyright 2023 SAP SE
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package secrets
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// GetPasswordFromCommandIfRequested evaluates the $OS_PW_CMD environment
+// variable if it exists and $OS_PASSWORD has not been provided.
+func GetPasswordFromCommandIfRequested() error {
+	pwCmd := os.Getenv("OS_PW_CMD")
+	if pwCmd == "" || os.Getenv("OS_PASSWORD") != "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Retrieve user's password from external command.
+	cmd := exec.Command("sh", "-c", pwCmd)
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	out, err := cmd.Output()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not execute OS_PW_CMD: %w", err)
+	}
+	os.Setenv("OS_PASSWORD", strings.TrimSuffix(string(out), "\n"))
+	return nil
+}