chmod 677 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 677 gives the owner read/write, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 7 |
chmod 677 filename
chmod 677 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| 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 677 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.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
677 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 677 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 677 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=rwx,o=rwx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 677 /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 677 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw-rwxrwx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 100 makes new directories 677. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 677 mean?
chmod 677 gives the owner read/write, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 7 (read/write/execute).
Is chmod 677 safe?
chmod 677 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 677 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 677 is represented as rw-rwxrwx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=rwx,o=rwx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: