diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index 5a2d2e071..dfd899036 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 - Building: Add SHARED variable to Makefile to choose if hashcat is build as static or shared binary (using libhashcat.so/hashcat.dll)
 - Building: Removed the use of RPATH on linker level
 - Events: Improved the maximum event message handling. event_log () will now also internally make sure that the message is properly terminated
+- Helper: Added functions to check existence, type, read- and write-permissions and rewrite sources to use them instead of stat()
 
 * changes v3.20 -> v3.30:
 
diff --git a/include/shared.h b/include/shared.h
index c7e884cb4..9afd5f0a7 100644
--- a/include/shared.h
+++ b/include/shared.h
@@ -40,4 +40,11 @@ int hc_fstat (int fd, hc_stat_t *buf);
 void  hc_qsort_r (void *base, size_t nmemb, size_t size, int (*compar) (const void *, const void *, void *), void *arg);
 void *hc_bsearch_r (const void *key, const void *base, size_t nmemb, size_t size, int (*compar) (const void *, const void *, void *), void *arg);
 
+bool hc_path_is_file (const char *path);
+bool hc_path_is_directory (const char *path);
+bool hc_path_is_empty (const char *path);
+bool hc_path_exist (const char *path);
+bool hc_path_read (const char *path);
+bool hc_path_write (const char *path);
+
 #endif // _SHARED_H
diff --git a/src/combinator.c b/src/combinator.c
index b3f44fc4f..d6362c12f 100644
--- a/src/combinator.c
+++ b/src/combinator.c
@@ -44,13 +44,26 @@ int combinator_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
     char *dictfile1 = user_options_extra->hc_workv[0];
     char *dictfile2 = user_options_extra->hc_workv[1];
 
+    // at this point we know the file actually exist
     // find the bigger dictionary and use as base
 
+    if (hc_path_is_file (dictfile1) == false)
+    {
+      event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: Not a regular file", dictfile1);
+
+      return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (hc_path_is_file (dictfile2) == false)
+    {
+      event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: Not a regular file", dictfile2);
+
+      return -1;
+    }
+
     FILE *fp1 = NULL;
     FILE *fp2 = NULL;
 
-    hc_stat_t tmp_stat;
-
     if ((fp1 = fopen (dictfile1, "rb")) == NULL)
     {
       event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", dictfile1);
@@ -58,50 +71,10 @@ int combinator_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
       return -1;
     }
 
-    if (hc_stat (dictfile1, &tmp_stat) == -1)
-    {
-      event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", dictfile1);
-
-      fclose (fp1);
-
-      return -1;
-    }
-
-    if (S_ISDIR (tmp_stat.st_mode))
-    {
-      event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s must be a regular file", dictfile1);
-
-      fclose (fp1);
-
-      return -1;
-    }
-
     if ((fp2 = fopen (dictfile2, "rb")) == NULL)
     {
       event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", dictfile2);
 
-      fclose (fp1);
-
-      return -1;
-    }
-
-    if (hc_stat (dictfile2, &tmp_stat) == -1)
-    {
-      event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", dictfile2);
-
-      fclose (fp1);
-      fclose (fp2);
-
-      return -1;
-    }
-
-    if (S_ISDIR (tmp_stat.st_mode))
-    {
-      event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s must be a regular file", dictfile2);
-
-      fclose (fp1);
-      fclose (fp2);
-
       return -1;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/hashes.c b/src/hashes.c
index b59c7487e..bbaa7fc35 100644
--- a/src/hashes.c
+++ b/src/hashes.c
@@ -453,9 +453,7 @@ int hashes_init_stage1 (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
   if ((user_options->benchmark == false) && (user_options->stdout_flag == false) && (user_options->keyspace == false))
   {
-    hc_stat_t f;
-
-    hashlist_mode = (hc_stat (hash_or_file, &f) == 0) ? HL_MODE_FILE : HL_MODE_ARG;
+    hashlist_mode = (hc_path_exist (hash_or_file) == true) ? HL_MODE_FILE : HL_MODE_ARG;
 
     if (hashconfig->opts_type & OPTS_TYPE_BINARY_HASHFILE)
     {
diff --git a/src/hwmon.c b/src/hwmon.c
index b63d83405..78e655cc7 100644
--- a/src/hwmon.c
+++ b/src/hwmon.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 // sysfs functions
 
-static int sysfs_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
+static bool sysfs_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 {
   hwmon_ctx_t *hwmon_ctx = hashcat_ctx->hwmon_ctx;
 
@@ -26,13 +26,11 @@ static int sysfs_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
   snprintf (path, HCBUFSIZ_TINY - 1, "%s", SYS_BUS_PCI_DEVICES);
 
-  hc_stat_t s;
-
-  int rc = hc_stat (path, &s);
+  const bool r = hc_path_read (path);
 
   hcfree (path);
 
-  return rc;
+  return r;
 }
 
 static void sysfs_close (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
@@ -3281,7 +3279,7 @@ int hwmon_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
   {
     hwmon_ctx->hm_sysfs = sysfs;
 
-    if (sysfs_init (hashcat_ctx) == -1)
+    if (sysfs_init (hashcat_ctx) == false)
     {
       hcfree (hwmon_ctx->hm_sysfs);
 
diff --git a/src/mpsp.c b/src/mpsp.c
index 0ecfeb0eb..07a7505b0 100644
--- a/src/mpsp.c
+++ b/src/mpsp.c
@@ -1242,9 +1242,7 @@ int mask_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
       {
         char *arg = user_options_extra->hc_workv[0];
 
-        hc_stat_t file_stat;
-
-        if (hc_stat (arg, &file_stat) == -1)
+        if (hc_path_exist (arg) == false)
         {
           const int rc = mask_append (hashcat_ctx, arg, NULL);
 
@@ -1258,14 +1256,7 @@ int mask_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
           {
             arg = user_options_extra->hc_workv[i];
 
-            if (hc_stat (arg, &file_stat) == -1)
-            {
-              event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", arg);
-
-              return -1;
-            }
-
-            if (S_ISREG (file_stat.st_mode))
+            if (hc_path_is_file (arg) == true)
             {
               FILE *mask_fp = fopen (arg, "r");
 
@@ -1348,9 +1339,7 @@ int mask_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
     // mod
 
-    hc_stat_t file_stat;
-
-    if (hc_stat (arg, &file_stat) == -1)
+    if (hc_path_exist (arg) == false)
     {
       const int rc = mask_append (hashcat_ctx, arg, NULL);
 
@@ -1358,7 +1347,7 @@ int mask_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
     }
     else
     {
-      if (S_ISREG (file_stat.st_mode))
+      if (hc_path_is_file (arg) == true)
       {
         mask_ctx->mask_from_file = true;
 
@@ -1424,9 +1413,7 @@ int mask_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
     // mod
 
-    hc_stat_t file_stat;
-
-    if (hc_stat (arg, &file_stat) == -1)
+    if (hc_path_exist (arg) == false)
     {
       const int rc = mask_append (hashcat_ctx, arg, NULL);
 
@@ -1434,7 +1421,7 @@ int mask_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
     }
     else
     {
-      if (S_ISREG (file_stat.st_mode))
+      if (hc_path_is_file (arg) == true)
       {
         mask_ctx->mask_from_file = true;
 
diff --git a/src/opencl.c b/src/opencl.c
index ae55c5ee1..49d9f1141 100644
--- a/src/opencl.c
+++ b/src/opencl.c
@@ -50,9 +50,7 @@ static int ocl_check_dri (MAYBE_UNUSED hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
   // No GPU available! That's fine, so we don't need to check if we have access to it.
 
-  hc_stat_t stat;
-
-  if (hc_stat (dri_card0_path, &stat) == -1) return 0;
+  if (hc_path_exist (dri_card0_path) == false) return 0;
 
   // Now we need to check if this an AMD vendor, because this is when the problems start
 
@@ -3797,22 +3795,7 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
     for (int i = 0; i < files_cnt; i++)
     {
-      FILE *fd = fopen (files_names[i], "r");
-
-      if (fd == NULL)
-      {
-        event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", files_names[i]);
-
-        return -1;
-      }
-
-      char buf[1] = { 0 };
-
-      size_t n = fread (buf, 1, 1, fd);
-
-      fclose (fd);
-
-      if (n != 1)
+      if (hc_path_read (files_names[i]) == false)
       {
         event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", files_names[i]);
 
@@ -3849,9 +3832,7 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       generate_source_kernel_filename (hashconfig->attack_exec, user_options_extra->attack_kern, hashconfig->kern_type, folder_config->shared_dir, source_file);
 
-      hc_stat_t sst;
-
-      if (hc_stat (source_file, &sst) == -1)
+      if (hc_path_read (source_file) == false)
       {
         event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", source_file);
 
@@ -3866,13 +3847,16 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       generate_cached_kernel_filename (hashconfig->attack_exec, user_options_extra->attack_kern, hashconfig->kern_type, folder_config->profile_dir, device_name_chksum, cached_file);
 
-      int cached = 1;
+      bool cached = true;
 
-      hc_stat_t cst;
-
-      if ((hc_stat (cached_file, &cst) == -1) || cst.st_size == 0)
+      if (hc_path_read (cached_file) == false)
       {
-        cached = 0;
+        cached = false;
+      }
+
+      if (hc_path_is_empty (cached_file) == true)
+      {
+        cached = false;
       }
 
       /**
@@ -3885,7 +3869,7 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       if (opencl_ctx->force_jit_compilation == -1)
       {
-        if (cached == 0)
+        if (cached == false)
         {
           #if defined (DEBUG)
           if (user_options->quiet == false) event_log_warning (hashcat_ctx, "* Device #%u: Kernel %s not found in cache! Building may take a while...", device_id + 1, filename_from_filepath (cached_file));
@@ -4057,9 +4041,7 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       generate_source_kernel_mp_filename (hashconfig->opti_type, hashconfig->opts_type, folder_config->shared_dir, source_file);
 
-      hc_stat_t sst;
-
-      if (hc_stat (source_file, &sst) == -1)
+      if (hc_path_read (source_file) == false)
       {
         event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", source_file);
 
@@ -4074,13 +4056,16 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       generate_cached_kernel_mp_filename (hashconfig->opti_type, hashconfig->opts_type, folder_config->profile_dir, device_name_chksum, cached_file);
 
-      int cached = 1;
+      bool cached = true;
 
-      hc_stat_t cst;
-
-      if (hc_stat (cached_file, &cst) == -1)
+      if (hc_path_read (cached_file) == false)
       {
-        cached = 0;
+        cached = false;
+      }
+
+      if (hc_path_is_empty (cached_file) == true)
+      {
+        cached = false;
       }
 
       /**
@@ -4091,7 +4076,7 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       char **kernel_sources = (char **) hcmalloc (sizeof (char *));
 
-      if (cached == 0)
+      if (cached == false)
       {
         #if defined (DEBUG)
         if (user_options->quiet == false) event_log_warning (hashcat_ctx, "* Device #%u: Kernel %s not found in cache! Building may take a while...", device_id + 1, filename_from_filepath (cached_file));
@@ -4199,9 +4184,7 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       generate_source_kernel_amp_filename (user_options_extra->attack_kern, folder_config->shared_dir, source_file);
 
-      hc_stat_t sst;
-
-      if (hc_stat (source_file, &sst) == -1)
+      if (hc_path_read (source_file) == false)
       {
         event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", source_file);
 
@@ -4216,13 +4199,16 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       generate_cached_kernel_amp_filename (user_options_extra->attack_kern, folder_config->profile_dir, device_name_chksum, cached_file);
 
-      int cached = 1;
+      bool cached = true;
 
-      hc_stat_t cst;
-
-      if (hc_stat (cached_file, &cst) == -1)
+      if (hc_path_read (cached_file) == false)
       {
-        cached = 0;
+        cached = false;
+      }
+
+      if (hc_path_is_empty (cached_file) == true)
+      {
+        cached = false;
       }
 
       /**
@@ -4233,7 +4219,7 @@ int opencl_session_begin (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
       char **kernel_sources = (char **) hcmalloc (sizeof (char *));
 
-      if (cached == 0)
+      if (cached == false)
       {
         #if defined (DEBUG)
         if (user_options->quiet == false) event_log_warning (hashcat_ctx, "* Device #%u: Kernel %s not found in cache! Building may take a while...", device_id + 1, filename_from_filepath (cached_file));
diff --git a/src/outfile_check.c b/src/outfile_check.c
index 435472069..0a8715072 100644
--- a/src/outfile_check.c
+++ b/src/outfile_check.c
@@ -67,14 +67,21 @@ static int outfile_remove (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
     if (check_left == 0)
     {
-      hc_stat_t outfile_check_stat;
-
-      if (hc_stat (root_directory, &outfile_check_stat) == 0)
+      if (hc_path_exist (root_directory) == true)
       {
-        u32 is_dir = S_ISDIR (outfile_check_stat.st_mode);
+        const bool is_dir = hc_path_is_directory (root_directory);
 
-        if (is_dir == 1)
+        if (is_dir == true)
         {
+          hc_stat_t outfile_check_stat;
+
+          if (hc_stat (root_directory, &outfile_check_stat) == -1)
+          {
+            event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", root_directory);
+
+            return -1;
+          }
+
           if (outfile_check_stat.st_mtime > folder_mtime)
           {
             char **out_files_new = scan_directory (root_directory);
@@ -349,15 +356,13 @@ int outcheck_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
     outcheck_ctx->root_directory = user_options->outfile_check_dir;
   }
 
-  hc_stat_t outfile_check_stat;
-
-  if (hc_stat (outcheck_ctx->root_directory, &outfile_check_stat) == 0)
+  if (hc_path_exist (outcheck_ctx->root_directory) == true)
   {
-    const u32 is_dir = S_ISDIR (outfile_check_stat.st_mode);
+    const bool is_dir = hc_path_is_directory (outcheck_ctx->root_directory);
 
-    if (is_dir == 0)
+    if (is_dir == false)
     {
-      event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "Directory specified in outfile-check '%s' is not a valid directory", outcheck_ctx->root_directory);
+      event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "Directory specified in outfile-check '%s' is not a directory", outcheck_ctx->root_directory);
 
       return -1;
     }
diff --git a/src/potfile.c b/src/potfile.c
index 888eaf6be..ea172ac4e 100644
--- a/src/potfile.c
+++ b/src/potfile.c
@@ -116,9 +116,7 @@ int potfile_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
     hc_asprintf (&potfile_old, "%s/hashcat.pot", folder_config->profile_dir);
 
-    hc_stat_t st;
-
-    if (hc_stat (potfile_old, &st) == 0)
+    if (hc_path_exist (potfile_old) == true)
     {
       event_log_warning (hashcat_ctx, "Old potfile detected: %s", potfile_old);
       event_log_warning (hashcat_ctx, "New potfile is: %s ", potfile_ctx->filename);
diff --git a/src/restore.c b/src/restore.c
index a9a0d95f0..2a98561c3 100644
--- a/src/restore.c
+++ b/src/restore.c
@@ -293,17 +293,15 @@ int cycle_restore (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
 
   if (rc_write_restore == -1) return -1;
 
-  hc_stat_t st;
-
-  if (hc_stat (eff_restore_file, &st) == 0)
+  if (hc_path_exist (eff_restore_file) == true)
   {
-    if (unlink (eff_restore_file))
+    if (unlink (eff_restore_file) == -1)
     {
       event_log_warning (hashcat_ctx, "Unlink file '%s': %m", eff_restore_file);
     }
   }
 
-  if (rename (new_restore_file, eff_restore_file))
+  if (rename (new_restore_file, eff_restore_file) == -1)
   {
     event_log_warning (hashcat_ctx, "Rename file '%s' to '%s': %m", new_restore_file, eff_restore_file);
   }
diff --git a/src/shared.c b/src/shared.c
index dc74ced10..44efc0306 100644
--- a/src/shared.c
+++ b/src/shared.c
@@ -188,6 +188,60 @@ void *hc_bsearch_r (const void *key, const void *base, size_t nmemb, size_t size
   return (NULL);
 }
 
+bool hc_path_is_file (const char *path)
+{
+  hc_stat_t s;
+
+  if (hc_stat (path, &s) == -1) return false;
+
+  if (S_ISREG (s.st_mode)) return true;
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool hc_path_is_directory (const char *path)
+{
+  hc_stat_t s;
+
+  if (hc_stat (path, &s) == -1) return false;
+
+  if (S_ISDIR (s.st_mode)) return true;
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool hc_path_is_empty (const char *path)
+{
+  hc_stat_t s;
+
+  if (hc_stat (path, &s) == -1) return false;
+
+  if (s.st_size == 0) return true;
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool hc_path_exist (const char *path)
+{
+  if (access (path, F_OK) == -1) return false;
+
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool hc_path_read (const char *path)
+{
+  if (access (path, R_OK) == -1) return false;
+
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool hc_path_write (const char *path)
+{
+  if (access (path, W_OK) == -1) return false;
+
+  return true;
+}
+
 void setup_environment_variables ()
 {
   char *compute = getenv ("COMPUTE");
diff --git a/src/straight.c b/src/straight.c
index 1dc399f39..548089bbd 100644
--- a/src/straight.c
+++ b/src/straight.c
@@ -268,16 +268,9 @@ int straight_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
       {
         char *l0_filename = user_options_extra->hc_workv[i];
 
-        hc_stat_t l0_stat;
+        // at this point we already verified the path actually exist and is readable
 
-        if (hc_stat (l0_filename, &l0_stat) == -1)
-        {
-          event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", l0_filename);
-
-          return -1;
-        }
-
-        if (S_ISDIR (l0_stat.st_mode))
+        if (hc_path_is_directory (l0_filename) == true)
         {
           char **dictionary_files = NULL;
 
@@ -291,16 +284,14 @@ int straight_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
             {
               char *l1_filename = dictionary_files[d];
 
-              hc_stat_t l1_stat;
-
-              if (hc_stat (l1_filename, &l1_stat) == -1)
+              if (hc_path_read (l1_filename) == false)
               {
                 event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", l1_filename);
 
                 return -1;
               }
 
-              if (S_ISREG (l1_stat.st_mode))
+              if (hc_path_is_file (l1_filename) == true)
               {
                 const int rc = straight_ctx_add_wl (hashcat_ctx, l1_filename);
 
@@ -341,16 +332,9 @@ int straight_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
     {
       char *l0_filename = user_options_extra->hc_workv[i];
 
-      hc_stat_t l0_stat;
+      // at this point we already verified the path actually exist and is readable
 
-      if (hc_stat (l0_filename, &l0_stat) == -1)
-      {
-        event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", l0_filename);
-
-        return -1;
-      }
-
-      if (S_ISDIR (l0_stat.st_mode))
+      if (hc_path_is_directory (l0_filename) == true)
       {
         char **dictionary_files = NULL;
 
@@ -364,16 +348,14 @@ int straight_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
           {
             char *l1_filename = dictionary_files[d];
 
-            hc_stat_t l1_stat;
-
-            if (hc_stat (l1_filename, &l1_stat) == -1)
+            if (hc_path_read (l1_filename) == false)
             {
               event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", l1_filename);
 
               return -1;
             }
 
-            if (S_ISREG (l1_stat.st_mode))
+            if (hc_path_is_file (l1_filename) == true)
             {
               const int rc = straight_ctx_add_wl (hashcat_ctx, l1_filename);
 
@@ -405,16 +387,9 @@ int straight_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
     {
       char *l0_filename = user_options_extra->hc_workv[i];
 
-      hc_stat_t l0_stat;
+      // at this point we already verified the path actually exist and is readable
 
-      if (hc_stat (l0_filename, &l0_stat) == -1)
-      {
-        event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", l0_filename);
-
-        return -1;
-      }
-
-      if (S_ISDIR (l0_stat.st_mode))
+      if (hc_path_is_directory (l0_filename) == true)
       {
         char **dictionary_files = NULL;
 
@@ -428,16 +403,14 @@ int straight_ctx_init (hashcat_ctx_t *hashcat_ctx)
           {
             char *l1_filename = dictionary_files[d];
 
-            hc_stat_t l1_stat;
-
-            if (hc_stat (l1_filename, &l1_stat) == -1)
+            if (hc_path_read (l1_filename) == false)
             {
               event_log_error (hashcat_ctx, "%s: %m", l1_filename);
 
               return -1;
             }
 
-            if (S_ISREG (l1_stat.st_mode))
+            if (hc_path_is_file (l1_filename) == true)
             {
               const int rc = straight_ctx_add_wl (hashcat_ctx, l1_filename);