chmod 377 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 377 gives the owner write/execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 3 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 7 |
chmod 377 filename
chmod 377 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
| Group (g) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
Is chmod 377 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
- 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
377 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 377 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 377 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=wx,g=rwx,o=rwx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 377 /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 377 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--wxrwxrwx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 400 makes new directories 377. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 377 mean?
chmod 377 gives the owner write/execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 3 (write/execute), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 7 (read/write/execute).
Is chmod 377 safe?
chmod 377 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 377 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 377 is represented as -wxrwxrwx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=wx,g=rwx,o=rwx filename".
Related Permissions
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