performance
medium
Apply
chmod-recursive
2 points
Question 42. CSCD240-E1-A
Recursively change permissions in current dir so group and other have no write permission.
Work the drill
Answer on paper or in a terminal before revealing the ideal answer.
Ideal answer
chmod -R go-w .
Acceptable alternatives: ["chmod -R a-w . && chmod -R u+w .", "find . -exec chmod go-w {} \\;"]
Misconception bank
Each row below is a plausible wrong answer, the thinking that produces it, and the remedy that corrects the misconception. These are the foundation of the multiple-choice framing and the targeted feedback a student receives after answering.
chmod go-w .
Misconception. Missing -R; only changes current directory, not contents.
Remedy. -R propagates; without it, only the pwd entry changes.
chmod -R 644 .
Misconception. Breaks execute on scripts and directories!
Remedy. Never apply literal modes recursively unless you know ALL files are regular.
Authority mappings
Hover any chip for the mapping justification; click to open the authority record.
DCWF roles:
IT-451 System Administrator
KU topics:
CD-OSC-T7
Course-artifact links
Lectures
- CSCD240-S26-L06. Permissions part 2: chmod octal + symbolic, directory x bit
CTF challenges
- 02 Permissions: Apply to Everything