Sponsored Content
Full Discussion: chmod 777 security risks?
Top Forums UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers chmod 777 security risks? Post 302097253 by Gary777 on Wednesday 22nd of November 2006 08:45:35 PM
Old 11-22-2006
chmod 777 security risks?

Hello all,

I did a considerable search of the forum and didn't find an answer so I'll ask it here. For clarity's sake I'll state that I know just enough about Unix to be Dangerous (I'm an old Clipper, VO, ASM programmer from the 80's.)

I would like to install PHP driven CMS program to my webserver (iPowerWeb hosted) called SnippetMaster (http://www.snippetmaster.com/) to allow my business partner the ability to modify webpages without messing up the core file templates (I use includes for dynamic content) but one of the requirements of SnippetMaster is that I must chmod 666 or 777 ALL of the files in ../public_html directory that I want my partner to be able to modify. It doesn't require that I chmod 777 the directory it self.

They (http://www.snippetmaster.com/) openly claim and challenge anyone to prove them wrong that chmod'ing files with 777 in the public html directory is safe as long as my server is secure, they claim that only a person who can "log on" to my server and who has access to my root directory can overwrite an existing .shtml or .html file (such as index.shtml) or overwrite an existing PHP script with a potentially hazardous one and execute it. I don't believe this, I have a very strong feeling that this is patently wrong but after Googling for the last 2 hours I have found answers that both support and discourage this practice so I thought I'd ask the experts.

1) Is chmod'ing "files" in ../public_html to 777 or 666 a safe practice?

2) Can files be over written by people surfing the web (exmp: and simply using composer to edit then save the file back to the server?)

Please explain how this works if it is in fact a safe practice...

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Gary
 

7 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

chmod 777 on all directories below...how do I do that using the "find" command?

I've got 100 directories that each have 2 directories with in them. Structered like this: /home/domains/domain1/ through to /home/domains/domain100/ and those 2 directories mentioned above are here: /home/domains/domain1/directory1/ /home/domains/domain1/directory2/ through to... (7 Replies)
Discussion started by: Neko
7 Replies

2. Solaris

chmod -R 777 in /usr Solaris 9 = Major Screwup

Hello Everyone: One of our admins here accidently ran chmod -R 777 in the /usr folder on a V440 running Solaris 9. After that no one could run any command and could not login. I fixed most of the things by re-restricting some rights and applying the correct rights. Now there is a problem... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: muntaser_zaheer
3 Replies

3. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

chmod 777 * - oops

I can belive I really did this... chmod 777 /home :eek: I have my /home directory synced to another machine. Can anyone tell me how to get the permissions from back up server /home to production server /home It's important that I dont over write the files on the... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: shunter63
1 Replies

4. Cybersecurity

can another user 777 and existing 777 dirctory?

User usrA creates dirA directory and runs chmod 777 on the directory. Can usrB issue another 777 on dirA? It appears the answer is no even if the usrA and usrB are part of the same group. I know this is a rare scenario but I just ran across it and found out that usrB receives an error when... (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: zlek131
4 Replies

5. UNIX and Linux Applications

What is the difference between chmod in solaris and chmod in Linux?

i think it is the same in both... Iam i right? (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: sumaiya
1 Replies

6. Windows & DOS: Issues & Discussions

chmod -R 777 * in cygwin

Hello, I use windows XP on a small server. Lately I downloaded a software (hydrological computation) which asked me to install as well the software ‘cygwin' (kind of linux in windows environment) and then to perform in cygwin window the command: ‘chmod -R 777 *' in order to give writings... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: Cedalise
2 Replies

7. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Only allowing chmod 777 for file upload folder

Hey everyone. I have 2 different linux servers (each one is through a different web hosting company). On both servers I have the exact same PHP file upload script that allows users to upload a file or image to the server (everything on both servers is identical). On server #1 the "attachments"... (5 Replies)
Discussion started by: Mr.Canuck
5 Replies
CHMOD(3)								 1								  CHMOD(3)

chmod - Changes file mode

SYNOPSIS
bool chmod (string $filename, int $mode) DESCRIPTION
Attempts to change the mode of the specified file to that given in $mode. PARAMETERS
o $filename - Path to the file. o $mode - Note that $mode is not automatically assumed to be an octal value, so to ensure the expected operation, you need to prefix $mode with a zero (0). Strings such as "g+w" will not work properly. <?php chmod("/somedir/somefile", 755); // decimal; probably incorrect chmod("/somedir/somefile", "u+rwx,go+rx"); // string; incorrect chmod("/somedir/somefile", 0755); // octal; correct value of mode ?> man 1 chmod' and ' man 2 chmod'. <?php // Read and write for owner, nothing for everybody else chmod("/somedir/somefile", 0600); // Read and write for owner, read for everybody else chmod("/somedir/somefile", 0644); // Everything for owner, read and execute for others chmod("/somedir/somefile", 0755); // Everything for owner, read and execute for owner's group chmod("/somedir/somefile", 0750); ?> RETURN VALUES
Returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure. NOTES
Note The current user is the user under which PHP runs. It is probably not the same user you use for normal shell or FTP access. The mode can be changed only by user who owns the file on most systems. Note This function will not work on remote files as the file to be examined must be accessible via the server's filesystem. Note When safe mode is enabled, PHP checks whether the files or directories you are about to operate on have the same UID (owner) as the script that is being executed. In addition, you cannot set the SUID, SGID and sticky bits. SEE ALSO
chown(3), chgrp(3), fileperms(3), stat(3). PHP Documentation Group CHMOD(3)
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:50 PM.
Unix & Linux Forums Content Copyright 1993-2022. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy