---
name: "dpkg-statoverride"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "dpkg"
version: "1.17.27"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dpkg-statoverride/8"
---

# dpkg-statoverride(8)

override ownership and mode of files

## NAME

dpkg-statoverride - override ownership and mode of files

## SYNOPSIS

**dpkg-statoverride** \[*option*...\] *command*

## DESCRIPTION

\`**stat overrides**' are a way to tell [**dpkg**(1)](/dpkg/1.md) to use a different owner or mode for a path when a package is installed (this applies to any filesystem object that **dpkg** handles, including directories, devices, etc.). This can be used to force programs that are normally setuid to be install without a setuid flag, or only executable by a certain group.

**dpkg-statoverride** is a utility to manage the list of stat overrides. It has three basic functions: adding, removing and listing overrides.

## COMMANDS

- **--add** *user group mode path*

  Add an override for *path*. *path* does not need to exist when this command is used; the override will be stored and used later. Users and groups can be specified by their name (for example **root** or **nobody**), or by their number by prepending the number with a \`**#**' (for example **#0** or **#65534**). The *mode* needs to be specified in octal.

  If **--update** is specified and *path* exists, it is immediately set to the new owner and mode.

- **--remove** *path*

  Remove an override for *path*, the status of *path* is left unchanged by this command.

- **--list** \[*glob-pattern*\]

  List all overrides. If a glob pattern is specified restrict the output to overrides which match the glob. If there are no overrides or none match the glob **dpkg-statoverride** will exit with an exitcode of 1.

- **--help**

  Show the usage message and exit.

- **--version**

  Show the version and exit.

## OPTIONS

- **--admindir** *directory*

  Change the *directory* of the **dpkg** database where the statoverride file is also stored. Defaults to */var/lib/dpkg*.

- **--force**

  Force an action, even if a sanity check would otherwise prohibit it. This is necessary to override an existing override.

- **--update**

  Immediately try to change the *path* to the new owner and mode if it exists.

- **--quiet**

  Be less verbose about what we do.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **DPKG\_ADMINDIR**

  If set and the **--admindir** option has not been specified, it will be used as the **dpkg** data directory.

## FILES

- */var/lib/dpkg/statoverride*

  File which contains the current list of stat overrides of the system. It is located in the **dpkg** administration directory, along with other files important to **dpkg**, such as \`status' or \`available'.\
   Note: **dpkg-statoverride** preserves the old copy of this file, with extension "-old", before replacing it with the new one.

## SEE ALSO

[**dpkg**(1)](/dpkg/1.md).