chmod 172 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 172 gives the owner execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 1 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 172 filename
chmod 172 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
| Group (g) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 172 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- Even the owner cannot modify this file without changing permissions first.
- Scripts need read permission to run; only compiled binaries can be executed without it.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
172 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 770.
chmod 172 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 172 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=x,g=rwx,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 172 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type d -exec chmod 172 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
---xrwx-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 605 makes new directories 172. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 172 mean?
chmod 172 gives the owner execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 1 (execute), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 172 safe?
chmod 172 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 172 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 172 is represented as --xrwx-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=x,g=rwx,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: