Automic VaultAutomic Vault

brew

Install libcap with Homebrew, apk, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper

User-space interfaces to POSIX 1003.1e capabilities. Version 2.78 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libcap

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add libcap

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

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install captree

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · captree · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libcap

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S libcap

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

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libcap-devel

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

overview

Package summary

User-space interfaces to POSIX 1003.1e capabilities

Commands and aliases

  • capsh
  • getcap
  • getpcaps
  • setcap

history

Project history and usage

libcap is Andrew G. Morgan's user-space library and utility suite for Linux capabilities, including setcap, getcap, getpcaps, capsh, pam_cap, and related support libraries.

Project history

The upstream README describes libcap as a library for getting and setting POSIX.1e draft 15 capabilities, with native C/C++ and Go support. The Fully Capable site frames Linux capabilities as an alternative to the superuser model of privilege under Linux and notes that the Linux implementation is based on the defunct POSIX.1e draft.

The project grew beyond a C library into a family of privilege-management tools and helper code. The README names capsh, getpcaps, setcap, and getcap as example programs, while the Fully Capable site documents libpsx for POSIX semantics in threaded applications and Go packages for capability manipulation.

Adoption history

libcap became baseline Linux security infrastructure because file capabilities and process capabilities need user-space tooling. Distribution packages expose its command-line tools for administrators and its headers and library for software that must drop root while keeping only specific privileges.

How it is used

Administrators use setcap and getcap to assign and inspect file capabilities, getpcaps to inspect processes, and capsh to experiment with capability sets and shells. Developers link libcap when applications need direct control over Linux capability state.

Why package nerds care

libcap is one of the packages that turns a kernel security feature into everyday packaging policy. Without it, downstream maintainers have a harder time replacing setuid-root patterns with smaller capability grants.

Timeline

  • POSIX.1e draft 15: Upstream README identifies this draft as the capabilities model libcap targets.
  • 2024-05-18: kernel.org refs list libcap 2.70 tags.
  • 2024-10-25: kernel.org refs list libcap 2.71 tags.
  • 2025-03-04: kernel.org refs list libcap 2.75 tags.
  • 2026-04-05: kernel.org refs list libcap 2.78 tags.

Related projects

  • Related projects include the Linux kernel capability implementation, libcap-ng, libpsx, pam_cap, Go cap and psx packages, and distribution packaging that replaces setuid-root usage with file capabilities.

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.

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
capshcliglobal executable
getcapcliglobal executable
getpcapscliglobal executable
setcapcliglobal 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 version2.78
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:libcap
Version2.78
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libcap
Homepagehttps://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/
Repositoryhttps://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/libs/libcap/libcap.git
Upstream docshttps://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable
LicenseBSD-3-Clause AND GPL-2.0-or-later
Source archivehttps://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/libs/security/linux-privs/libcap2/libcap-2.78.tar.xz
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
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Requirements
  • linux
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • 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.

Nix95%

libcap

nix profile install nixpkgs#libcap
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libcap/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
apk95%

libcap 2.78-r0

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo apk add libcap
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-dev 2.78-r0

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities (development files)

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo apk add libcap-dev
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-doc 2.78-r0

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities (documentation)

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo apk add libcap-doc
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-getcap 2.78-r0

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities (getcap utility)

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo apk add libcap-getcap
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-getcap from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-setcap 2.78-r0

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities (setcap utility)

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo apk add libcap-setcap
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-setcap from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-static 2.78-r0

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities (static library)

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo apk add libcap-static
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap-utils 2.78-r0

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities (extra utils)

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo apk add libcap-utils
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap-utils from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

libcap2 2.78-r0

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities (libraries)

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo apk add libcap2
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libcap2 from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

captree 2.78-1.fc45

Capability inspection utility

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo dnf install captree
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: captree from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

libcap 2.78-1.fc45

Library for getting and setting POSIX.1e capabilities

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo dnf install libcap
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 4 dependencies
  • 4 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libcap from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

libcap-devel 2.78-1.fc45

Development files for libcap

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo dnf install libcap-devel
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 4 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libcap-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

libcap-static 2.78-1.fc45

Static libraries for libcap development

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo dnf install libcap-static
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libcap-static from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
pacman95%

libcap 2.78-1

POSIX 1003.1e capabilities

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo pacman -S libcap
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 2 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: libcap from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/core/os/x86_64/core.db.tar.gz
zypper95%

libcap-devel 2.78-1.2

Development files for libcap

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo zypper install libcap-devel
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Development/Libraries/C and C++
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 4 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libcap-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

libcap-progs 2.78-1.2

Libcap utility programs

https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/

sudo zypper install libcap-progs
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: System/Filesystems
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: libcap
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Libcap
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libcap-progs from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

package graph

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

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Same workflow

  • libcap-ngShares 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