chmod 523 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 523 gives the owner read/execute, the group write, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 523 filename
chmod 523 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and 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 523 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
523 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 500.
chmod 523 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 523 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rx,g=w,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 523 /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 523 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r-x-w--wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 254 makes new directories 523. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 523 mean?
chmod 523 gives the owner read/execute, the group write, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 5 (read/execute), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 523 safe?
chmod 523 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 523 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 523 is represented as r-x-w--wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rx,g=w,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: