chmod 052 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 052 gives the owner no access, the group read/execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 0 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 052 filename
chmod 052 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 0 |
--- |
No access | Cannot list, enter, or modify |
| Group (g) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 052 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Even the owner cannot modify this file without changing permissions first.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
052 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 440.
chmod 052 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 052 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=,g=rx,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 052 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type f -exec chmod 052 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
----r-x-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 725 makes new directories 052. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 052 mean?
chmod 052 gives the owner no access, the group read/execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 0 (no access), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 052 safe?
chmod 052 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 052 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 052 is represented as ---r-x-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=,g=rx,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: