chmod 423 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 423 gives the owner read, the group write, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 423 filename
chmod 423 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Group (g) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
| Others (o) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 423 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.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
423 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 400.
chmod 423 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 423 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=r,g=w,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 423 /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 423 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r---w--wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 354 makes new directories 423. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 423 mean?
chmod 423 gives the owner read, the group write, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 4 (read), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 423 safe?
chmod 423 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 423 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 423 is represented as r---w--wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=r,g=w,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: