diff --git a/parser/immunix.h b/parser/immunix.h
index 157a4f492..77085234f 100644
--- a/parser/immunix.h
+++ b/parser/immunix.h
@@ -33,6 +33,21 @@
 #define AA_MAY_LOCK			(1 << 5)
 #define AA_EXEC_MMAP			(1 << 6)
 
+#define AA_BASE_PERMS			(AA_MAY_EXEC | AA_MAY_WRITE | \
+					 AA_MAY_READ | AA_MAY_APPEND | \
+					 AA_MAY_LINK | AA_MAY_LOCK | \
+					 AA_EXEC_MMAP)
+#define AA_USER_SHIFT			0
+#define AA_GROUP_SHIFT			7
+#define AA_OTHER_SHIFT			14
+
+#define AA_USER_PERMS			(AA_BASE_PERMS << AA_USER_SHIFT)
+#define AA_GROUP_PERMS			(AA_BASE_PERMS << AA_GROUP_SHIFT)
+#define AA_OTHER_PERMS			(AA_BASE_PERMS << AA_OTHER_SHIFT)
+
+#define AA_FILE_PERMS			(AA_USER_PERMS | AA_GROUP_PERMS | \
+					 AA_OTHER_PERMS)
+
 #define AA_CHANGE_PROFILE		(1 << 26)
 
 #define AA_EXEC_UNSAFE			(1 << 27)
@@ -51,6 +66,17 @@
 #define AA_EXEC_PROFILE			(AA_EXEC_MOD_1)
 #define AA_EXEC_PROFILE_OR_INHERIT	(AA_EXEC_MOD_0 | AA_EXEC_MOD_1)
 
+#define AA_VALID_PERMS			(AA_FILE_PERMS | AA_CHANGE_PROFILE | \
+					 AA_EXEC_UNSAFE | AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS)
+
+#define AA_EXEC_BITS			((AA_MAY_EXEC << AA_USER_SHIFT) | \
+					 (AA_MAY_EXEC << AA_GROUP_SHIFT) | \
+					 (AA_MAY_EXEC << AA_OTHER_SHIFT))
+
+#define SHIFT_MODE(MODE, SHIFT)		((((MODE) & AA_BASE_PERMS) << (SHIFT))\
+					 | ((MODE) & ~AA_FILE_PERMS))
+#define SHIFT_TO_BASE(MODE, SHIFT)	((((MODE) & AA_FILE_PERMS) >> (SHIFT))\
+					 | ((MODE) & ~AA_FILE_PERMS))
 
 #define AA_HAT_SIZE	975	/* Maximum size of a subdomain
 					 * ident (hat) */
diff --git a/parser/libapparmor_re/regexp.y b/parser/libapparmor_re/regexp.y
index bc365d86a..ce69ed94f 100644
--- a/parser/libapparmor_re/regexp.y
+++ b/parser/libapparmor_re/regexp.y
@@ -1529,7 +1529,6 @@ if (exact_match_perms)
 fprintf(stderr, "exact match perms without exec modifiers!!!\n");
 	    perms |= exact_match_perms;
     }
-if ((perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) > AA_EXEC_PROFILE_OR_INHERIT) fprintf(stderr, "bad accept perm 0x%x\n", perms);
  if (perms & AA_ERROR_BIT) {
      fprintf(stderr, "error bit 0x%x\n", perms);
      exit(255);
@@ -1544,8 +1543,8 @@ if ((perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) > AA_EXEC_PROFILE_OR_INHERIT) fprintf(stderr, "b
 extern "C" int aare_add_rule(aare_ruleset_t *rules, char *rule, uint32_t perms)
 {
     static MatchFlag *match_flags[sizeof(perms) * 8 - 4 + 8];
-    static MatchFlag *exec_match_flags[8];
-    static ExactMatchFlag *exact_match_flags[8];
+    static MatchFlag *exec_match_flags[8 * 3];
+    static ExactMatchFlag *exact_match_flags[8 * 3];
     Node *tree, *accept;
     int exact_match;
 
@@ -1554,8 +1553,7 @@ extern "C" int aare_add_rule(aare_ruleset_t *rules, char *rule, uint32_t perms)
     if (regexp_parse(&tree, rule))
 	return 0;
 
-if ((perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) > AA_EXEC_PROFILE_OR_INHERIT) fprintf(stderr, "bad accept perm 0x%x when adding rule\n", perms);
- if ((perms & AA_MAY_EXEC) && !(perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS))
+ if ((perms & AA_EXEC_BITS) && !(perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS))
      fprintf(stderr, "Rule with exec bits and not exec modifiers\n\t 0x%x %s\n", perms, rule);
     /*
      * Check if we have an expression with or without wildcards. This
@@ -1583,8 +1581,13 @@ if ((perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) > AA_EXEC_PROFILE_OR_INHERIT) fprintf(stderr, "b
 	    perms &= ~mask;
 
 	    Node *flag;
-	    if ((mask & AA_MAY_EXEC) && (perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS)) {
+	    if ((mask & AA_EXEC_BITS) && (perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS)) {
 		    int index = (perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) >> AA_EXEC_MOD_SHIFT;
+		    if (mask & (AA_MAY_EXEC << AA_GROUP_SHIFT))
+			    index += 8;
+		    else if (mask & (AA_MAY_EXEC << AA_OTHER_SHIFT))
+			    index += 16;
+
 		    if (exact_match) {
 			    if (exact_match_flags[index])
 				    flag = exact_match_flags[index]->dup();
@@ -1617,8 +1620,8 @@ if ((perms & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) > AA_EXEC_PROFILE_OR_INHERIT) fprintf(stderr, "b
     rules->root = new AltNode(rules->root, new CatNode(tree, accept));
 
     return 1;
-}
 
+}
 
 /* create a dfa from the ruleset
  * returns: buffer contain dfa tables, @size set to the size of the tables
diff --git a/parser/parser_lex.l b/parser/parser_lex.l
index 05b77a37c..f65f2b47b 100644
--- a/parser/parser_lex.l
+++ b/parser/parser_lex.l
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ END_OF_RULE	[,]
 SEPERATOR 	{UP}
 RANGE		-
 MODE_CHARS 	([RrWwaLlMmk])|([Pp][Xx])|([Uu][Xx])|([Ii][Xx])|([Pp][Ii][Xx])
-MODES		{MODE_CHARS}+
+MODES		({MODE_CHARS}+)|({MODE_CHARS}*:{MODE_CHARS}*:{MODE_CHARS}*)
 WS		[[:blank:]]
 NUMBER		[[:digit:]]+
 ID 		[^ \t\n"!,]|(,[^ \t\n"!])
diff --git a/parser/parser_merge.c b/parser/parser_merge.c
index f167fa96c..cf95a0949 100644
--- a/parser/parser_merge.c
+++ b/parser/parser_merge.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ static int process_file_entries(struct codomain *cod)
 	table[count] = NULL;
 
 #define X_CONFLICT(a, b) \
-	(HAS_MAY_EXEC(a) && HAS_MAY_EXEC(b) && \
+	(((a) & AA_EXEC_BITS) && ((b) & AA_EXEC_BITS) && \
 	 (((a) & (AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS | AA_EXEC_UNSAFE)) != \
 	  ((b) & (AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS | AA_EXEC_UNSAFE))))
 
diff --git a/parser/parser_misc.c b/parser/parser_misc.c
index 587ac89c3..b30de73da 100644
--- a/parser/parser_misc.c
+++ b/parser/parser_misc.c
@@ -401,10 +401,9 @@ static void warn_uppercase(void)
 		warned_uppercase = 1;
 	}
 }
-int parse_mode(const char *str_mode)
+
+static int parse_sub_mode(const char *str_mode, const char *mode_desc)
 {
-	/* The 'check' int is a bit of a kludge, but we need some context
-	   when we're doing permission checking */
 
 #define IS_DIFF_QUAL(mode, q) (((mode) & AA_MAY_EXEC) && (((mode) & (AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS | AA_EXEC_UNSAFE)) != (q)))
 
@@ -426,31 +425,31 @@ int parse_mode(const char *str_mode)
 reeval:
 		switch (this) {
 		case COD_READ_CHAR:
-			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found READ\n");
+			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found %s READ\n", mode_desc);
 			mode |= AA_MAY_READ;
 			break;
 
 		case COD_WRITE_CHAR:
-			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found WRITE\n");
+			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found %s WRITE\n", mode_desc);
 			if ((mode & AA_MAY_APPEND) && !(mode & AA_MAY_WRITE))
 				yyerror(_("Conflict 'a' and 'w' perms are mutually exclusive."));
 			mode |= AA_MAY_WRITE | AA_MAY_APPEND;
 			break;
 
 		case COD_APPEND_CHAR:
-			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found APPEND\n");
+			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found %s APPEND\n", mode_desc);
 			if (mode & AA_MAY_WRITE)
 				yyerror(_("Conflict 'a' and 'w' perms are mutually exclusive."));
 			mode |= AA_MAY_APPEND;
 			break;
 
 		case COD_LINK_CHAR:
-			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found LINK\n");
+			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found %s LINK\n", mode_desc);
 			mode |= AA_MAY_LINK;
 			break;
 
 		case COD_LOCK_CHAR:
-			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found LOCK\n");
+			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found %s LOCK\n", mode_desc);
 			mode |= AA_MAY_LOCK;
 			break;
 
@@ -513,15 +512,18 @@ reeval:
 			break;
 
 		case COD_MMAP_CHAR:
-			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found MMAP\n");
+			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found %s MMAP\n", mode_desc);
 			mode |= AA_EXEC_MMAP;
 			break;
 
 		case COD_EXEC_CHAR:
-			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found EXEC\n");
+			PDEBUG("Parsing mode: found %s EXEC\n", mode_desc);
 			yyerror(_("Invalid mode, 'x' must be preceded by exec qualifier 'i', 'p', or 'u'"));
 			break;
 
+		case ':':
+			goto out;
+			break;
  		/* error cases */
 
 		default:
@@ -549,12 +551,54 @@ reeval:
 
 		p++;
 	}
-
+out:
 	PDEBUG("Parsed mode: %s 0x%x\n", str_mode, mode);
 
 	return mode;
 }
 
+int parse_mode(const char *str_mode)
+{
+	const char *next, *pos = str_mode;
+	int tmp, mode = 0;
+	next = strchr(str_mode, ':');
+	if (!next) {
+		tmp = parse_sub_mode(str_mode, "");
+		mode = SHIFT_MODE(tmp, AA_USER_SHIFT);
+		mode |= SHIFT_MODE(tmp, AA_GROUP_SHIFT);
+		mode |= SHIFT_MODE(tmp, AA_OTHER_SHIFT);
+		if (mode & ~AA_VALID_PERMS)
+			yyerror(_("Internal error generated invalid perm 0x%llx\n"), mode);
+		return mode;
+	}
+	/* user:group:other */
+	if (next > pos)
+		mode = SHIFT_MODE(parse_sub_mode(pos, "user"), AA_USER_SHIFT);
+	pos = next + 1;
+	next = strchr(pos, ':');
+	if (next > pos) {
+		tmp = parse_sub_mode(pos, "group");
+		if ((mode & AA_EXEC_BITS) && (tmp & AA_EXEC_BITS) &&
+		    (mode & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) != (tmp & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS))
+			yyerror(_("conflicting x modifiers between user and group permissions."));
+		mode |= SHIFT_MODE(tmp, AA_GROUP_SHIFT);
+	}
+	pos = next + 1;
+	if (*pos) {
+		tmp = parse_sub_mode(pos, "other");
+		if ((mode & AA_EXEC_BITS) && (tmp & AA_EXEC_BITS) &&
+		    (mode & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) != (tmp & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS))
+			yyerror(_("conflicting x modifiers between other and user:group permissions."));
+		mode |= SHIFT_MODE(tmp, AA_OTHER_SHIFT);
+	}
+	if (mode & ~AA_VALID_PERMS)
+		yyerror(_("Internal error generated invalid perm 0x%llx\n"), mode);
+	if (!mode)
+		yyerror(_("Invalid permission permission \"::\" - no permission specified."));
+
+	return mode;
+}
+
 struct cod_entry *new_entry(char *namespace, char *id, int mode)
 {
 	struct cod_entry *entry = NULL;
@@ -618,6 +662,38 @@ void free_cod_entries(struct cod_entry *list)
 	free(list);
 }
 
+static void debug_base_perm_mask(int mask)
+{
+	if (HAS_MAY_READ(mask))
+		printf("%c", COD_READ_CHAR);
+	if (HAS_MAY_WRITE(mask))
+		printf("%c", COD_WRITE_CHAR);
+	if (HAS_MAY_APPEND(mask))
+		printf("%c", COD_APPEND_CHAR);
+	if (HAS_MAY_LINK(mask))
+		printf("%c", COD_LINK_CHAR);
+	if (HAS_MAY_LOCK(mask))
+		printf("%c", COD_LOCK_CHAR);
+	if (HAS_EXEC_INHERIT(mask))
+		printf("%c", COD_INHERIT_CHAR);
+	if (HAS_EXEC_UNCONFINED(mask)) {
+		if (HAS_EXEC_UNSAFE(mask))
+			printf("%c", COD_UNSAFE_UNCONFINED_CHAR);
+		else
+			printf("%c", COD_UNCONFINED_CHAR);
+	}
+	if (HAS_EXEC_PROFILE(mask)) {
+		if (HAS_EXEC_UNSAFE(mask))
+			printf("%c", COD_UNSAFE_PROFILE_CHAR);
+		else
+			printf("%c", COD_PROFILE_CHAR);
+	}
+	if (HAS_EXEC_MMAP(mask))
+		printf("%c", COD_MMAP_CHAR);
+	if (HAS_MAY_EXEC(mask))
+		printf("%c", COD_EXEC_CHAR);
+}
+
 void debug_cod_entries(struct cod_entry *list)
 {
 	struct cod_entry *item = NULL;
@@ -629,37 +705,15 @@ void debug_cod_entries(struct cod_entry *list)
 			printf("Item is NULL!\n");
 
 		printf("Mode:\t");
-		if (HAS_MAY_READ(item->mode))
-			printf("%c", COD_READ_CHAR);
-		if (HAS_MAY_WRITE(item->mode))
-			printf("%c", COD_WRITE_CHAR);
-		if (HAS_MAY_APPEND(item->mode))
-			printf("%c", COD_APPEND_CHAR);
-		if (HAS_MAY_LINK(item->mode))
-			printf("%c", COD_LINK_CHAR);
-		if (HAS_MAY_LOCK(item->mode))
-			printf("%c", COD_LOCK_CHAR);
-		if (HAS_EXEC_INHERIT(item->mode))
-			printf("%c", COD_INHERIT_CHAR);
-		if (HAS_EXEC_UNCONFINED(item->mode)) {
-			if (HAS_EXEC_UNSAFE(item->mode))
-				printf("%c", COD_UNSAFE_UNCONFINED_CHAR);
-			else
-				printf("%c", COD_UNCONFINED_CHAR);
-		}
-		if (HAS_EXEC_PROFILE(item->mode)) {
-			if (HAS_EXEC_UNSAFE(item->mode))
-				printf("%c", COD_UNSAFE_PROFILE_CHAR);
-			else
-				printf("%c", COD_PROFILE_CHAR);
-		}
-		if (HAS_EXEC_MMAP(item->mode))
-			printf("%c", COD_MMAP_CHAR);
-		if (HAS_MAY_EXEC(item->mode))
-			printf("%c", COD_EXEC_CHAR);
 		if (HAS_CHANGE_PROFILE(item->mode))
 			printf(" change_profile");
-
+		if (HAS_EXEC_UNSAFE(item->mode))
+			printf(" unsafe");
+		debug_base_perm_mask(SHIFT_TO_BASE(item->mode, AA_USER_SHIFT));
+		printf(":");
+		debug_base_perm_mask(SHIFT_TO_BASE(item->mode, AA_GROUP_SHIFT));
+		printf(":");
+		debug_base_perm_mask(SHIFT_TO_BASE(item->mode, AA_OTHER_SHIFT));
 		if (item->name)
 			printf("\tName:\t(%s)\n", item->name);
 
diff --git a/parser/parser_regex.c b/parser/parser_regex.c
index 7f1568768..a447afd32 100644
--- a/parser/parser_regex.c
+++ b/parser/parser_regex.c
@@ -497,8 +497,14 @@ static int process_dfa_entry(aare_ruleset_t *dfarules, struct cod_entry *entry)
 	/* ix implies m but the apparmor module does not add m bit to
 	 * dfa states like it does for pcre
 	 */
-	if ((entry->mode & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) == AA_EXEC_INHERIT)
-		entry->mode |= AA_EXEC_MMAP;
+	if ((entry->mode & AA_EXEC_MODIFIERS) == AA_EXEC_INHERIT) {
+		if (HAS_MAY_EXEC(SHIFT_TO_BASE(entry->mode, AA_OTHER_SHIFT)))
+			entry->mode |= AA_EXEC_MMAP << AA_OTHER_SHIFT;
+		if (HAS_MAY_EXEC(SHIFT_TO_BASE(entry->mode, AA_GROUP_SHIFT)))
+			entry->mode |= AA_EXEC_MMAP << AA_GROUP_SHIFT;
+		if (HAS_MAY_EXEC(SHIFT_TO_BASE(entry->mode, AA_USER_SHIFT)))
+			entry->mode |= AA_EXEC_MMAP << AA_USER_SHIFT;
+	}
 	if (!aare_add_rule(dfarules, tbuf, entry->mode))
 		ret = FALSE;
 
diff --git a/parser/parser_yacc.y b/parser/parser_yacc.y
index 1ec1d2407..56a3c6a7a 100644
--- a/parser/parser_yacc.y
+++ b/parser/parser_yacc.y
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ rule:   file_mode id_or_var TOK_END_OF_RULE
 
 rule:	TOK_UNSAFE file_mode id_or_var TOK_END_OF_RULE
 	{
-		if (!($2 & AA_MAY_EXEC))
+		if (!($2 & AA_EXEC_BITS))
 			yyerror(_("unsafe rule missing exec permissions"));
 		$$ = do_file_rule(NULL, $3, $2 | AA_EXEC_UNSAFE);
 	};
@@ -599,6 +599,8 @@ hat_start: TOK_SEP {}
 
 file_mode: TOK_MODE
 	{
+		/* A single TOK_MODE maps to the same permission in all
+		 * of user:group:other */
 		$$ = parse_mode($1);
 		free($1);
 	}