The "SoftException in Application.cpp: UID of script is smaller than min_uid" error means a PHP or CGI script is owned by the wrong user. On shared hosting under CloudLinux, a script must be owned by your own cPanel account to run, so when a file is owned by root or another user, the server refuses to execute it. The fix is to correct the file ownership.
Fix file ownership
The script is owned by root, nobody, or another user instead of your cPanel account. Over SSH: chown -R $USER:$USER ~/public_html, or open a ticket and we will fix the ownership for you.
01. What the Error Means
CloudLinux enforces a minimum user ID (min_uid) that scripts must meet to run, which keeps scripts from executing as privileged system users. A normal account user is above that threshold; root and system accounts like nobody are below it. When a script in your account is owned by one of those low-UID users, it falls under min_uid and the server blocks it with this error, usually surfacing as a 500 error for visitors.
02. What Causes Wrong Ownership
- Files created by root - a server-side process or a previous admin created files as root.
- Restored from a backup made on a different account or server that preserved the old ownership.
- Extracted from an archive that kept the original owner IDs.
- Uploaded by the wrong user during a manual migration.
03. How to Fix It
Over SSH, reset ownership to your account and set sane permissions:
chown -R $USER:$USER ~/public_html
find ~/public_html -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
find ~/public_html -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;If you do not have SSH access, you cannot change ownership from cPanel File Manager - open a ticket and we will correct it across your account.
04. Why Not Just Use 777
Do not set files to 777 to try to work around this. The error is about ownership, not permissions, so 777 does not fix it and leaves your files world-writable, which is a serious security risk. Correct the owner with chown instead.
Need Ownership Fixed?
Open a ticket and we will correct file ownership across your account.
Open a Support TicketFrequently Asked Questions
What does UID of script is smaller than min_uid mean?
A script in your account is owned by a low-UID user such as root or nobody, below the minimum user ID CloudLinux requires to run scripts. The server blocks it, which usually shows as a 500 error. Scripts must be owned by your own cPanel account.
How do I fix the SoftException min_uid error?
Reset ownership to your account: over SSH run chown -R $USER:$USER ~/public_html, then set directories to 755 and files to 644. If you do not have SSH, open a ticket since ownership cannot be changed from File Manager.
Why are my files owned by the wrong user?
Usually a restore from another account or server, an archive that preserved old owner IDs, files created by root, or a manual upload as the wrong user. The fix is the same: chown everything back to your account.
Will setting 777 fix this error?
No. The problem is ownership, not permissions, so 777 does not resolve it and makes the files world-writable, which is a security risk. Use chown to set the correct owner and keep 755/644 permissions.
Quick Recap
- Error means wrong ownership - files owned by root or another user.
- Fix with chown - chown -R $USER:$USER ~/public_html.
- Set permissions - 755 directories, 644 files.
- Common after a restore or archive extraction.
- Never use 777 - it does not fix ownership.
Server error troubleshooting · Last updated November 2026 · Browse all Error articles
