chmod 437 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 437 gives the owner read, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 7 |
chmod 437 filename
chmod 437 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Group (g) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
| Others (o) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
Is chmod 437 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.
- 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
437 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 437 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 437 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=r,g=wx,o=rwx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 437 /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 437 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r---wxrwx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 340 makes new directories 437. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 437 mean?
chmod 437 gives the owner read, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 4 (read), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 7 (read/write/execute).
Is chmod 437 safe?
chmod 437 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 437 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 437 is represented as r---wxrwx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=r,g=wx,o=rwx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: