Within my Dropbox folder, I have sub-folders with different Windows ACL permissions. Up until recently, whenever Dropbox synced a file it inherited its folder permissions perfectly. Now it no longer does. It overrides the folder permissions and sets all file permissions to something completely different - Full Control for admins and Read/Read & Execute for users. Is there any way to get back to the old days - when Dropbox respected the inheritance of ACL permissions to all files in each folder?

Hi,I have been doing some playing around with this.- When dropbox downloads a file it downloads it initially to a directory in the hidden system folder \Dropbox\.dropbox.cache- once it is downloaded it performs a MOVE to the actual destination folder.- When you a MOVE (not copy) a file within the same volume on an NTFS Filesystem, it will retain its permissions rather than inherit the permissions of the destination folder.So if you set MODIFY permissions for "Users" (Or domain users if on a domain) on the folder \Dropbox\.dropbox.cache then when the file is moved to the true destination folder it will retain the MODIFY rights, and other users on that same machine (Or Domain) will be able to modify/delete the file.But (I hear you say) what about my permissions stopping people accessing folders that they should not be able to access? Well... these still work. The permissions you have set on the folder will still remain, so you can exclude some users from some folders. The files within that folder however will be modifiable by all, but that does not really matter as other users can't get to them any way.Clear as mud?Andy

All,I've been in contact with Travis at Dropbox customer support, he confirmed it was a product change that went into effect in a recent Dropbox update, and affects all clients and operating systems. Presumably Dropbox was having problems with user permissions, so they took the nuclear option of forcing all files to replicate the root folder permissions.While I can see the need for a "novice" user mode, they should have included an advanced option to maintain the existing ACL management, and told him as much. He has forwarded my feedback into the development team. Will they heed my input? Who knows?When I asked if or when this might be fixed: "With regards to the time frame on when this will amended, unfortunately, I'm not able to provide you with one. I'm not a part of any decision making team, as such there isn't an estimate I can give, and I don't want to set any expectations for you."When I asked how would I know about such a change: "If a decision is made to reverse the change or implement some sort of exception, I imagine this will be disseminated to our users via email."He did add: "I can only advise that if you know other users, that are experiencing this, urge them that they voice their concern to us at Dropbox support. This way, the more feedback we send and our team receives, the stronger the case for them to take action on this as soon as possible."His advice is the only way this is going to get changed... if enough of us raise our voice over this issue. If you have not already, I encourage you to contact Dropbox support and voice your frustration.I must say that Travis was very professional in his responses, and is only giving me the best information he can. Unfortunately, it also likely means I'll need to look into other options.For those of you who have not yet contacted Dropbox support, below is a template email you can use to send in. Maybe if they get enough of them, they might listen.pwc=============================================================To Dropbox Support:Files sync'd to my Dropbox folder no longer inherit folder permissions, but instead have a fixed set of permissions. This is breaking our use of the product. This is a new bug that was introduced in the past week. We have been using Dropbox successfully for MANY years.I believe the basic problem to be that files are being moved from the cache folder into the destination folder after download, which is moving the ACL (permissions) setting along with the file. This is a NEW behavior of Dropbox. Until a recent update (last week or so), files were likely copied, not moved (otherwise set to the permissions of the destination folder after the move using icals).This is a deal-breaker for me… security permissions must be obeyed, as they have been for literally years. For some reason, the dev team changed how files are handled, and this has broken permissions control. This is happening on all operating systems, and is easily repeatable:Machine A:Create folder (call it ‘Test’) with permissions different from the root, make permissions inheritableCreate a text file in folder. Verify that permissions match the Test subfolder, not the root Dropbox folder (it should or you setup the permissions wrong)Machine B:After sync, add a second text file in the Test folder.Machine A:After sync, second text file has the permissions of the root Dropbox folder, NOT the Test folder.Machine B:Modify the text file that was first created.Machine A:After sync, the initial text now also has the permissions of the root Dropbox folder, NOT the Test folder.Prior to the update in the past week, Dropbox would maintain the permissions of the Test folder, not the root Dropbox folder.I need this to be fixed ASAP.======================Then go to this link and post it to them: https://www.dropbox.com/support/email

The Dropbox folder is syncing OK as far as I know: Edited by moderator On the second device the ACL permissions are: Edited by moderator Until recently, Dropbox 'respected' the ACL permissions on both devices and the files inherited the permissions from each device's respective parent folder. Now it seems like Dropbox is insisting files are written with their own specific permissions? This has only been a problem in the last few weeks - I have had this setup running since 2012!

I have a dropbox subfolder that is set up for sharing over a local Windows network. The folder and its parents are all set for sharing with a default of Full Access for "Everyone" on the network. If I create a file in this folder using Windows, the file will have proper NTFS permissions, both local and Network Share. Any files imported into the folder through Dropbox, however, from, say, an Android device or a Linux machine, only inherit local NTFS permissions. The permissions for "Everyone" are missing. I have to open each file's permissions box and add "Everyone" to it for any other machines on the Windows net to see the file. I've had this arragement for quite some time, and it seems like the permissions worked fine up until a few months ago after an app update. I've been pulling my hair out looking for solutions, but I am at my wit's end. What is Dropbox doing differently when creating these files from all other Windows apps?

I can confirm, that setting the permissions on the (hidden) .dropbox.cache folder will reflect on synced files.This works for me, since all my files needs one specific permissions. It will not work, if there are different permissions for different folders.This is so stupid.(But not as stupid as the change to selective sync, which did completly mess up our setting and forces us to use a new dropbox account.)

Dropbox files no longer inherit folder permissions

105 Replies

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Jane
Dropbox Staff
7 years ago
Hey rjwb, that's interesting; let’s have a closer look!

Can you include two side-by-side screen shots (without personal info) in your next message showing me what’s your current sync status & the sync icons as you’re viewing a sample directory where folder permissions have been reset?

Could you also check whether this is happening on a directory where you’ve assigned the same permissions outside Dropbox? Do you see the same thing or does it appear differently?

Keep me posted of your findings & we’ll go from there!
rjwb
Helpful | Level 7
7 years ago
The sync status is fine - all files are syncing perfectly. It's just their ACL permissions are getting changed if the file is synced via Dropbox, as opposed to saved directly to the folder on the PC.

An example folder permissions are as per shot1.

Edited by moderator

If a file is saved directly on the PC into the Dropboxed folder, it inherits the permissions from the parent folder correctly (shot2)

Edited by moderator

But if it's saved on another machine and gets synced by Dropbox, it gets saved with different permissions and ignores inheritance (shot3)

Edited by moderator
Jane
Dropbox Staff
7 years ago
Thanks for the screen grabs rjwb!

It looks like the issue lies on the "timesheet RB 1912.xlsx” that’s added from a second device when being synced down to your first device, which wouldn’t inherit the ACL permissions you’ve assigned to the "Timesheets” parent folder.

It would be ideal to see the syncing icons & sync status on the Dropbox folder to form a clearer picture. However, could you include an extra screenshot showing me the ACL permissions set on the second device for the parent folder of the "timesheet RB 1912.xlsx” spreadsheet?

I look forward to hearing back from you!
rjwb
Helpful | Level 7
7 years ago
The Dropbox folder is syncing OK as far as I know:

Edited by moderator

On the second device the ACL permissions are:

Edited by moderator

Until recently, Dropbox 'respected' the ACL permissions on both devices and the files inherited the permissions from each device's respective parent folder. Now it seems like Dropbox is insisting files are written with their own specific permissions? This has only been a problem in the last few weeks - I have had this setup running since 2012!
Jane
Dropbox Staff
7 years ago
Hmm.. I see.. :thinking: Thanks for all these extra details & visual input rjwb!

As you mentioned that this has recently changed for you, would it be okay if we continued this discussion via ticket? If you confirm, I’ll create a support request on our system for you & ask a team specialist whether there has been a recent change.

Thanks again for keeping in touch with me here!
rjwb
Helpful | Level 7
7 years ago
Yes that's fine
Thanks!
Stiggbert
Explorer | Level 4
7 years ago
Can you update this thread with your findings please. I'm having the exact same problem.
Jane
Dropbox Staff
7 years ago
Thanks for the quick confirmation rjwb!

I’ve just sent you a brief message through our support system. Please have a look at your inbox when you have some spare time & we’ll take it from there.

I’ll be awaiting your next email!
rjwb
Helpful | Level 7
7 years ago
Will do - I suspect I will just be told that I am using Dropbox in an unsupported configuration - but let's see.
I am already looking for alternatives to Dropbox on that basis, but it's a shame that something that has been working for 8 years should now break. It's also pretty fundamental to Windows that applications respect ACL permissions on a folder!
KiwiMark
Explorer | Level 4
7 years ago
I also have the same problem. Files are synced from a remote user but specific inheritable permissions are not applied. This applies to every file that is synced into the folder rather than saved into the folder. My symptoms are exactly the same as rjwb.