chmod 552 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 552 gives the owner read/execute, the group read/execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 552 filename
chmod 552 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Group (g) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 552 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace 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
552 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 750.
chmod 552 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 552 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rx,g=rx,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 552 /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 552 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r-xr-x-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 225 makes new directories 552. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 552 mean?
chmod 552 gives the owner read/execute, the group read/execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 5 (read/execute), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 552 safe?
chmod 552 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 552 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 552 is represented as r-xr-x-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rx,g=rx,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: