Introduction
Some people are thinking better to ask for forgiveness then permission? (Sorry for the pun in the title). In the modern computing environment, file level permissions are important in operating systems. We do not interact with them directly in most instances in our normal everyday lives. Most of us can create an administrator account, yet know little to nothing about how we can limit a person's specific permissions except for technical gurus, IT users, or power users. So, how can we limit a person's specific permissions depending on his account and privileges? I will explain how to change file level permissions below in VB.NET.
Requirements
- Dotnet framework 4.5 or Above
- Windows 7 Operating System or Above
- Time: Takes about 30-45 minutes to code depending on the amount of permissions that are going to be added or removed from the file. However, your mileage may differ on how fast you complete this project.
Using the code
I. Loading Users for a specific file
Our first step in this tutorial is to load the users that have permissions for a specific file into a list box. In Figure 1, as you can see the users with permissions to the file are retrieved and added to lstUsers. Example 1 below has users loaded into lstUsers to show which users it retrieved. Note: the users that are retrieved could vary depending on your system. Some test users where created and added to the file for demonstration purposes in this tutorial.
Example 1 – Users loaded into lstUsers list box.
Private Sub BtnBrowse_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles BtnBrowse.Click
OpenFileDialog1.Title = "Get access control for file"
OpenFileDialog1.Multiselect = False
OpenFileDialog1.InitialDirectory = "C:\Users\Jeffery\Desktop"
If OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then
filename = OpenFileDialog1.FileName
Dim fi As New FileInfo(OpenFileDialog1.FileName)
Dim fs As New FileSecurity fs = fi.GetAccessControl
Dim object1 As Type = Type.GetType("System.Security.Principal.NTAccount")
For Each AuthRule As FileSystemAccessRule In fs.GetAccessRules(True, True, object1)
lstUsers.Items.Add(AuthRule.IdentityReference.Value.ToString)
Next
End If
End Sub
Figure 1 – Retrieving users and adding to lstUsers list box.
II. Viewing Permissions for a specific user
The second step in the tutorial is to view permissions for a specific user. As you can see in Example 2, I have selected the user test and his allow and deny permissions to the file show up. Notice how test does not have any deny permissions? This is not a code error. In fact, he does not have any revoked or denied permissions at all. In Figure 2, I show the code for lstUsers_SelectedIndexChanged Event which shows the permissions for a specific user that is selected from the list.
Example 2 - Selection of a specific user
Figure 2 - lstUsers_SelectedIndexChanged
Private Sub lstUsers_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles lstUsers.SelectedIndexChanged
user = ""
user = lstUsers.SelectedItem.ToString
Dim fi As New FileInfo(filename)
Dim fs As New FileSecurity fs = fi.GetAccessControl
Dim object1 As Type = Type.GetType("System.Security.Principal.NTAccount")
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Clear()
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Clear()
For Each AuthRule As FileSystemAccessRule In fs.GetAccessRules(True, True, object1)
If AuthRule.IdentityReference.Value.ToString = lstUsers.SelectedItem.ToString Then
Dim ACL_Type As String = ""
If AuthRule.AccessControlType.Equals(AccessControlType.Deny) Then
ACL_Type = "Deny"
Else
ACL_Type = "Allow"
End If
Dim permissions As String = ""
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.FullControl) = FileSystemRights.FullControl Then
permissions = "Full Control"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.Modify) = FileSystemRights.Modify Then
permissions = "Modify"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.ReadAndExecute) = FileSystemRights.ReadAndExecute Then
permissions = "Read And Execute"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.ListDirectory) = FileSystemRights.ListDirectory Then
permissions = "List Directory Contents"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.Read) = FileSystemRights.Read Then
permissions = "Read"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.ReadPermissions) = FileSystemRights.ReadPermissions Then
permissions = "Read Permissions"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.Write) = FileSystemRights.Write Then
permissions = "Write"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.WriteAttributes) = FileSystemRights.WriteAttributes Then
permissions = "Write Attributes"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.WriteData) = FileSystemRights.WriteData Then
permissions = "Write Data"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.Traverse) = FileSystemRights.Traverse Then
permissions = "Trasverse Folder"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.ReadAttributes) = FileSystemRights.ReadAttributes Then
permissions = "Read Attributes"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.ChangePermissions) = FileSystemRights.ChangePermissions Then
permissions = "Change Permissions"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
If (AuthRule.FileSystemRights And FileSystemRights.CreateFiles) = FileSystemRights.CreateFiles Then
permissions = "Create Files"
If ACL_Type = "Allow" And permissions <> "" Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
If ACL_Type = "Deny" And permissions <> "" Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(permissions)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
End If
End If
End If
Next
End Sub
III.Adding/Removing Permissions
In this section, we add and change permissions but do not set them on the file. The next code section will show how to set the new permissions on the file. In this section we are adding new permissions to allow or deny permission lists with permissions to be set on the file. In Figure 3, permissions are added to allow or deny lists depending upon what is selected in the cboACLType list box. In Figure 4, the code is displayed for removing currently displayed Allow or Deny permissions. Note: you must remove the permission before changing to the next user or changes may be lost. To remove an item, uncheck it in the list box and click Remove Permissions.
Figure 3 - Add New Allow or Deny Permissions
Private Sub BtnAdd_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles BtnAdd.Click
If cboACLType.SelectedItem = "Allow" Then
If lstAllowPermissions.Items.IndexOf(cboPermissionList.SelectedItem) = -1 And filename <> "" And lstUsers.SelectedIndex <> -1 Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.Add(cboPermissionList.SelectedItem.ToString)
lstAllowPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
AllowPermissions.Add(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Item(lstAllowPermissions.Items.IndexOf(cboPermissionList.SelectedItem.ToString)))
End If
ElseIf cboACLType.SelectedItem = "Deny" Then
If lstDenyPermissions.Items.IndexOf(cboPermissionList.SelectedItem) = -1 And filename <> "" And lstUsers.SelectedIndex <> -1 Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.Add(cboPermissionList.SelectedItem.ToString)
lstDenyPermissions.SetItemChecked(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1, True)
DenyPermissions.Add(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Item(lstDenyPermissions.Items.IndexOf(cboPermissionList.SelectedItem.ToString)))
End If
End If
End Sub
Figure 4 - Removing Allow or Deny Permissions
Private Sub BtnRemovePermissions_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles BtnRemovePermissions.Click
Dim count As Integer
count = lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1
If count <> -1 Then
For allow = 0 To count
If allow = lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count Then
Exit For
End If
If lstAllowPermissions.GetItemCheckState(allow) = CheckState.Unchecked Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.RemoveAt(allow)
count = count - 1
End If
Next
If lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count > 0 Then
If lstAllowPermissions.GetItemCheckState(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1) = CheckState.Unchecked Then
lstAllowPermissions.Items.RemoveAt(lstAllowPermissions.Items.Count - 1)
End If
End If
End If
count = 0
count = lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1
If count <> -1 Then
For deny = 0 To count
If lstDenyPermissions.GetItemCheckState(deny) = CheckState.Unchecked Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.RemoveAt(deny)
End If
Next
If lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count > 0 Then
If lstDenyPermissions.GetItemCheckState(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1) = CheckState.Unchecked Then
lstDenyPermissions.Items.RemoveAt(lstDenyPermissions.Items.Count - 1)
End If
Else
End If
End If
End Sub
In Figures 5+6, I use the selectedindexchanged event of deny and allow permission list boxes to change permissions based on what is checked.
Figure 5 - Adding changed Allow permissions
Private Sub lstAllowPermissions_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles lstAllowPermissions.SelectedIndexChanged
AllowPermissions.Clear()
For i = 0 To lstAllowPermissions.CheckedItems.Count - 1
AllowPermissions.Add(lstAllowPermissions.CheckedItems.Item(i).ToString)
Next
End Sub
Figure 6 - Adding changed Deny permissions
Private Sub lstDenyPermissions_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles lstDenyPermissions.SelectedIndexChanged
DenyPermissions.Clear()
For i = 0 To lstDenyPermissions.CheckedItems.Count - 1
DenyPermissions.Add(lstDenyPermissions.CheckedItems.Item(i).ToString)
Next
End Sub
In example 3, you can see when looking at the picture that I added a deny permission of List Directory Contents for the user test. To add the deny permission, I selected the permission to deny and Deny from the combo boxes and then clicked add permissions. Note: deny permissions override allow permissions for local files so I do not need to revoke a permission if it is denied.
Example 3 - Adding a deny permission of List Directory contents to user test.
IV.Setting Permissions
In Figure 7, I call the SetPermissions function for the SetPermissions Button. In Figure 8, the SetPermissions function sets the permissions for our file we selected in Figure 1.
Figure 7 - Set Permissions Button code
Private Sub BtnSetPermissions_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles BtnSetPermissions.Click
If SetPermissions() = True Then
MsgBox("done!")
End If
End Sub
Figure 8- SetPermissions Function sets permissions for the file we selected.
Public Function SetPermissions() As Boolean
Dim fi As New FileInfo(filename)
Dim fs As New FileSecurity
fs = fi.GetAccessControl
Dim object1 As Type = Type.GetType("System.Security.Principal.NTAccount")
Dim newrule As FileSystemAccessRule
If AllowPermissions.Count > 0 Then
For i = 0 To AllowPermissions.Count - 1
Select Case AllowPermissions.Item(i)
Case Is = "Read"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.Read, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Write"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.Write, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "List Directory Contents"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ListDirectory, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Create Files"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.CreateFiles, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Read And Execute"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ReadAndExecute, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Transverse Folder"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.Traverse, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Full Control"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.FullControl, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Read Attributes"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ReadAttributes, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Read extended Attributes"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ReadExtendedAttributes, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Modify"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.Modify, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Append Data"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.AppendData, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Change Permissions"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ChangePermissions, AccessControlType.Allow)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
End Select
newrule = Nothing
Next i
End If
newrule = Nothing
If DenyPermissions.Count > 0 Then
For i = 0 To DenyPermissions.Count - 1
Select Case DenyPermissions.Item(i)
Case Is = "Read"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.Read, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Write"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.Write, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "List Directory Contents"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ListDirectory, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Create Files"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.CreateFiles, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Read And Execute"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ReadAndExecute, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Transverse Folder"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.Traverse, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Full Control"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.FullControl, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Read Attributes"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ReadAttributes, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Read extended Attributes"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ReadExtendedAttributes, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Modify"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.Modify, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Append Data"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.AppendData, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
Case Is = "Change Permissions"
newrule = New FileSystemAccessRule(user, FileSystemRights.ChangePermissions, AccessControlType.Deny)
fs.AddAccessRule(newrule)
File.SetAccessControl(filename, fs)
End Select
newrule = Nothing
Next i
End If
Return True
End Function
Example 4 - showing how the deny permissions were applied to the file.
In Example 4, see how the Permission Entry for devices (devices.txt file) Dialog above is showing only the Deny permission of List Directory Contents and there is a new Deny rule added? The new rule is added when the List folder permission is changed to deny. This rule is only applied though when we click BtnSet Permissions (also called the Set Permissions button) before moving onto the next user. Note: these are local file permissions and do not include changing any active directory permissions.
History
This member has not yet provided a Biography. Assume it's interesting and varied, and probably something to do with programming.
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
gotcha
. I had some issues with the code project editor showing me a nice article. However, preview shows something completely different at times. Does code project have the cleaner for pasting code like TechNet wiki has? I like being able to paste code or text without worrying the word formatting will make me lose my nice format. P.S. I am still fairly new to posting articles on code project.