File permissions
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 4:09 am
File permissions on both your installation and web server are critical to improving WordPress security. If permissions are too loose, someone can easily access your site and wreak havoc. On the other hand, if permissions are too strict, it can disrupt the functionality of your site. Therefore, it is important that all permissions are set correctly.
Read permissions are assigned if the user has read rights to the file.
Write permissions are assigned if the user has rights to write or modify the file.
Execute permissions are assigned if the user has rights to run the file and/or execute it as a script.
Directory Permissions
Read permissions are assigned if the advertising database user has access rights to the contents of the identified folder/directory.
Write permissions are assigned if the user has rights to add or delete files contained in the folder/directory.
Execute permissions are assigned if the user has rights to access the real directory and execute functions and commands, including the ability to delete data in the folder/directory.
You can use a free plugin like iThemes Security to scan the permissions on your WordPress site.
wordpress file permissions
Here are some typical permissions guidelines when it comes to file and folder permissions in WordPress. For a more detailed explanation, see the WordPress Codex article on changing file permissions.
All files must be 644 or 640 in size. Exception: wp-config.php must be 440 or 400 in size so that other users on the server cannot read it.
All directories must be 755 or 750.
No directories should ever be assigned 777, not even download directories.
Read permissions are assigned if the user has read rights to the file.
Write permissions are assigned if the user has rights to write or modify the file.
Execute permissions are assigned if the user has rights to run the file and/or execute it as a script.
Directory Permissions
Read permissions are assigned if the advertising database user has access rights to the contents of the identified folder/directory.
Write permissions are assigned if the user has rights to add or delete files contained in the folder/directory.
Execute permissions are assigned if the user has rights to access the real directory and execute functions and commands, including the ability to delete data in the folder/directory.
You can use a free plugin like iThemes Security to scan the permissions on your WordPress site.
wordpress file permissions
Here are some typical permissions guidelines when it comes to file and folder permissions in WordPress. For a more detailed explanation, see the WordPress Codex article on changing file permissions.
All files must be 644 or 640 in size. Exception: wp-config.php must be 440 or 400 in size so that other users on the server cannot read it.
All directories must be 755 or 750.
No directories should ever be assigned 777, not even download directories.