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Install libcap-ng with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper

Library for Linux that makes using posix capabilities easy. Version 0.9.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-09.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libcap-ng

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add libcap-ng

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · libcap-ng · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libcap-ng-dev

Debian stable package indexes · libcap-ng-dev · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install libcap-ng

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · libcap-ng · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libcap_ng

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/li/libcap_ng/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S libcap-ng

Arch Linux sync databases · libcap-ng · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libcap-ng-devel

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libcap-ng-devel · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Library for Linux that makes using posix capabilities easy

Commands and aliases

  • filecap
  • netcap
  • pscap

history

Project history and usage

libcap-ng is Steve Grubb's Linux capability library and utility suite, designed to make POSIX capability programming easier than the older libcap API.

Project history

The libcap-ng site states the design goal directly: make programming with POSIX capabilities easier than the traditional libcap library. Its README demonstrates common use cases such as dropping all capabilities, keeping selected capabilities, checking capability state, and retaining capabilities across UID changes.

The project paired the C library with administrative tools. netcap reports listening network processes and their capabilities, pscap reports privileged processes, filecap searches for files with file capabilities, and cap-audit can audit capability checks when built with the optional eBPF-based tooling.

Adoption history

libcap-ng was adopted by Linux distributions because it gives application developers and packagers a smaller API for privilege dropping, while giving administrators tools to inspect capability exposure across a running system.

How it is used

Developers use capng_clear, capng_update, capng_apply, and related calls to drop or retain Linux capabilities. Administrators use pscap, netcap, and filecap to find over-privileged processes and files.

Why package nerds care

In package-manager terms, libcap-ng is a security plumbing package: it is rarely user-facing, but it makes least-privilege patches shorter and more reviewable. That is exactly the kind of small library that changes whether downstream packages actually drop privileges.

Timeline

  • 0.4: Initial public release, according to the upstream ChangeLog.
  • 0.6: Added Python bindings and an m4 macro for autotools consumers.
  • 0.8: Added ambient capability support and V3 filesystem capability support.
  • 2024-04-09: The project site listed libcap-ng 0.8.5 release files.
  • 0.9: The README documents a distribution move away from people.redhat.com release hosting to the GitHub page.

Related projects

  • Related projects include libcap, Linux capabilities, file capabilities, procfs capability inspection, systemd ambient capabilities, and eBPF-based capability auditing.

security posture

Risk level: green

library-like package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

  • library-like package without higher-risk signals

Signals

  • metadata:library-like

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 2 platform targets.
  • Build metadata lists 8 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
filecapcliglobal executable
netcapcliglobal executable
pscapcliglobal executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08
manager version0.9.3
manager updated2026-04-09
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv0.9.3

https://github.com/stevegrubb/libcap-ng

  • okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:libcap-ng
Version0.9.3
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libcap-ng
Homepagehttps://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng/
Repositoryhttps://github.com/stevegrubb/libcap-ng
Upstream docshttps://github.com/stevegrubb/libcap-ng#readme
LicenseLGPL-2.1-or-later AND GPL-2.0-or-later
Source archivehttps://github.com/stevegrubb/libcap-ng/archive/refs/tags/v0.9.3.tar.gz
Last updated2026-04-09T18:24:44Z
Pulseupdated
Build dependenciesautoconf, automake, libtool, m4, pkgconf, python-setuptools, python@3.14, swig
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Namelibcap-ng
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Head VersionHEAD
Requirements
  • linux
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • head
  • stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

libcap-ng-dev 0.8.5-4+b1

Development and header files for libcap-ng

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng

sudo apt install libcap-ng-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libcap-ng-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libcap-ng-utils 0.8.5-4+b1

Utilities for analysing and setting file capabilities

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng

sudo apt install libcap-ng-utils
  • Section: admin
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libcap-ng-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libcap-ng0 0.8.5-4+b1

alternate POSIX capabilities library

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng

sudo apt install libcap-ng0
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libcap-ng0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

python3-cap-ng 0.8.5-4+b1

Python3 bindings for libcap-ng

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng

sudo apt install python3-cap-ng
  • Section: python
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: python3-cap-ng from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

libcap_ng

nix profile install nixpkgs#libcap_ng
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libcap_ng/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

libcap-ng-dev 0.8.4-2build2

Development and header files for libcap-ng

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng

sudo apt install libcap-ng-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libcap-ng-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libcap-ng-utils 0.8.4-2build2

Utilities for analysing and setting file capabilities

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng

sudo apt install libcap-ng-utils
  • Section: universe/admin
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libcap-ng-utils from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libcap-ng0 0.8.4-2build2

alternate POSIX capabilities library

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng

sudo apt install libcap-ng0
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libcap-ng0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

python3-cap-ng 0.8.4-2build2

Python3 bindings for libcap-ng

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng

sudo apt install python3-cap-ng
  • Section: universe/python
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: python3-cap-ng from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

libcap-ng 0.8.5-r2

POSIX capabilities library

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng/index.html

sudo apk add libcap-ng
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-ng from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-ng-dev 0.8.5-r2

POSIX capabilities library (development files)

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng/index.html

sudo apk add libcap-ng-dev
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-ng-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-ng-doc 0.8.5-r2

POSIX capabilities library (documentation)

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng/index.html

sudo apk add libcap-ng-doc
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-ng-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-ng-static 0.8.5-r2

POSIX capabilities library (static library)

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng/index.html

sudo apk add libcap-ng-static
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-ng-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-ng-utils 0.8.5-r2

posix capabilities utils

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng/index.html

sudo apk add libcap-ng-utils
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-ng-utils from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

py3-libcap-ng 0.8.5-r2

python bindings for libcap-ng

https://people.redhat.com/sgrubb/libcap-ng/index.html

sudo apk add py3-libcap-ng
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: py3-libcap-ng from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

libcap-ng 0.9.3-2.fc45

Alternate posix capabilities library

https://github.com/stevegrubb/libcap-ng

sudo dnf install libcap-ng
  • License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: libcap-ng
  • 3 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap Ng
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libcap-ng from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

Related tools

  • autoconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • automakeBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • libtoolBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • m4Build dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • libcapShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, linux, linux-capabilities, permissions.
  • botanShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, security.
  • cracklibShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, security.
  • cyrus-saslShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, security.
  • gnutlsShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, library, security.
  • linux-pamShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, linux, security.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Used sources

  • Geiger risk classifier
  • Nucleus package database
  • av.db category and tag curation
  • cross-ecosystem install command graph
  • curated package history
  • external package-manager database matches
  • package relationship graph
  • package version freshness
  • package-page enrichment