Access97 permissions

I would like to know if there is a way to change the permissions in an Access97 database, that has been split (front end/back end), without modifying each user’s front end.

In this environment each user has there own MDB file and is a part of the same workgroup file (MDW). Both front end/ back end’s live on the server (each front end lives the according end user’s private folder). Where do the permissions live (mdb/mdw)? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.