Why 644 Permissions are a Problem

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 79 views

.aws Folder Permissions Issue: A Critical Setup Mistake

Understanding the Problem

When setting up a machine for the first time, especially with tools like Granted, it's essential to ensure that the .aws folder is created with the correct permissions. This folder is used to store AWS credentials and other sensitive information, making it a critical component of your AWS setup. However, if the .aws folder is created with invalid permissions, it can lead to security issues and other problems.

The Issue with Granted

Granted is a popular tool for managing AWS credentials and other AWS-related tasks. When you run granted sso populate before the .aws folder exists, Granted creates it with 644 permissions. This is a problem because the .aws folder should have more restrictive permissions to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Why 644 Permissions are a Problem

The 644 permission setting means that the owner of the folder has read and write permissions, while the group and others have read-only permissions. This is not sufficient for a folder that contains sensitive AWS credentials. A better approach would be to set the permissions to 755 or 700, which would give the owner full control, while limiting access to the group and others.

The Correct Approach

As you've discovered, the issue lies in the sso.go file in the Granted repository. Specifically, the line of code that creates the .aws folder with 644 permissions is the problem. You've also pointed out that this issue was corrected in a previous pull request, which is a great example of how to fix this problem.

Correcting the Issue

To correct the issue, you can modify the sso.go file to create the .aws folder with the correct permissions. This can be done by changing the line of code that creates the folder to use the os.Mkdir function with the correct permission flags. For example:

err := os.Mkdir(".aws", 0700)

This will create the .aws folder with 700 permissions, which is a more secure setting.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the .aws folder is a critical component of your AWS setup, and it's essential to ensure that it's created with the correct permissions. Granted is a popular tool for managing AWS credentials, but it can create the .aws folder with invalid permissions if not used correctly. By modifying the sso.go file to create the folder with the correct permissions, you can ensure that your AWS setup is secure and reliable.

Additional Tips and Best Practices

Always use the correct permissions when creating folders and files, especially for sensitive information like AWS credentials.
Use tools like Granted to manage your AWS credentials and other AWS-related tasks, but be aware of the potential issues and how to correct them.
Regularly review and update your AWS setup to ensure that it's secure and reliable.
Consider using a more secure permission setting, such as 700, for the .aws folder to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Common Issues and Solutions

Invalid permissions: If the .aws folder is created with invalid permissions, you may experience issues with your AWS setup, such as failed login attempts or errors when trying to access AWS resources.
Solution: Modify the sso.go file to create the .aws folder with the correct permissions, such as 700.
Other issues: If you're experiencing other issues with your AWS setup, such as failed login attempts or errors when trying to access AWS resources, you may want to review your AWS credentials and permissions to ensure that they're correct.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the .aws folder is a critical component of your AWS setup, and it's essential to ensure that it's created with the correct permissions. By modifying the sso.go file to create the folder with the correct permissions, you can ensure that your AWS setup is secure and reliable. Remember to always use the correct permissions when creating folders and files, especially for sensitive information like AWS credentials.
.aws Folder Permissions Issue: A Critical Setup Mistake - Q&A

Understanding the Problem

Q&A

Q: What are the common issues with the .aws folder permissions?

A: The common issues with the .aws folder permissions are:

Invalid permissions: The .aws folder is created with 644 permissions, which is not sufficient for a folder that contains sensitive AWS credentials.
Security issues: Unauthorized access to sensitive information can lead to security issues and other problems.
Failed login attempts: If the .aws folder is created with invalid permissions, you may experience failed login attempts when trying to access AWS resources.

Q: Why is it essential to use the correct permissions for the .aws folder?

A: It's essential to use the correct permissions for the .aws folder because it contains sensitive AWS credentials and other information. If the folder is created with invalid permissions, it can lead to security issues and other problems.

Q: What are the correct permissions for the .aws folder?

A: The correct permissions for the .aws folder are 755 or 700. This will give the owner full control, while limiting access to the group and others.

Q: How can I modify the sso.go file to create the .aws folder with the correct permissions?

A: To modify the sso.go file to create the .aws folder with the correct permissions, you can change the line of code that creates the folder to use the os.Mkdir function with the correct permission flags. For example:

err := os.Mkdir(".aws", 0700)

This will create the .aws folder with 700 permissions, which is a more secure setting.

Q: What are the best practices for managing AWS credentials and other AWS-related tasks?

A: The best practices for managing AWS credentials and other AWS-related tasks are:

Use tools like Granted to manage your AWS credentials and other AWS-related tasks.
Regularly review and update your AWS setup to ensure that it's secure and reliable.
Consider using a more secure permission setting, such as 700, for the .aws folder to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Q: What are the common issues and solutions for the .aws folder permissions?

A: The common issues and solutions for the .aws folder permissions are:

Invalid permissions: Modify the sso.go file to create the .aws folder with the correct permissions, such as 700.
Security issues: Regularly review and update your AWS setup to ensure that it's secure and reliable.
Failed login attempts: Modify the sso.go file to create the .aws folder with the correct permissions, such as 700.

Conclusion