macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install socatlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install socatMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/socat/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install socat with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
SOcket CAT: netcat on steroids. Version 1.8.1.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-27.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add socatAlpine Linux edge package indexes · socat · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install socatDebian stable package indexes · socat · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install socatFedora Rawhide package metadata · socat · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#socatnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/so/socat/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S socatArch Linux sync databases · socat · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install socatopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · socat · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
SOcket CAT: netcat on steroids
Project links
Commands and aliases
- filan
- procan
- socat
- socat-broker.sh
- socat-chain.sh
- socat-mux.sh
- socat1
history
Project history and usage
socat is a classic Unix command-line relay for connecting two bidirectional byte streams. Its own homepage describes it as netcat++: an extended-design, new implementation command for TCP, UDP, Unix sockets, PTYs, files, SSL, proxies, raw sockets, and many other address types.
Project history
The official git repository's earliest imported commit is from January 27, 2008 for socat 1.6.0.0, while the project homepage continues to publish release notes, source tarballs, checksums, documentation, and security advisories.
socat's development history is long and conservative by CLI standards: releases add transport/address families, fix portability issues, and preserve compatibility for scripts. Version 1.8.0.0 in 2023 added network namespaces, POSIX message queues, systemd inetd-style ACCEPT-FD, SOCKS5 client support, and helper scripts for chained, muxed, and brokered connections.
Adoption history
The supplied package-manager facts show socat packaged across Homebrew, Alpine, Debian, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, Ubuntu, and openSUSE. That breadth is consistent with its role as an administrator's network Swiss army knife, often installed as a dependency or debugging aid rather than as an end-user application.
How it is used
Official docs and homepage examples show socat relaying between address specifications such as TCP listeners, proxies, Unix sockets, PTYs, files, stdio, SSL endpoints, and command execution. Users value it because a single invocation can replace small custom relay programs or awkward shell glue.
Why package nerds care
Package nerds care about socat because it is one of the canonical small tools that makes Unix packaging feel powerful: install one binary and gain a laboratory for sockets, pipes, terminals, tunnels, proxies, namespaces, and service debugging. Its release notes also matter to maintainers because networking and parser bugs can be security-sensitive.
Timeline
- 2008: Initial imported git commit for socat 1.6.0.0.
- 2008: 1.7.0.0 tagged in the official repository.
- 2023: 1.8.0.0 added network namespaces, POSIX message queues, SOCKS5, and helper scripts.
- 2024: 1.8.0.2 fixed CVE-2024-54661.
- 2026: 1.8.1.2 fixed CVE-2026-56123 in the SOCKS5 reply parser.
- 2026: 1.8.1.3 fixed the test for the recent SOCKS5 parser issue on platforms with non-bash default shells.
Related projects
- socat is commonly discussed as an extended netcat-style relay, and its homepage explicitly positions it as netcat++.
Sources
- http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
- http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/doc/socat.html
- https://repo.or.cz/socat.git
- source_facts.package-manager
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime 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
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
filan | cli | global executable | |
procan | cli | global executable | |
socat | cli | global executable | |
socat-broker.sh | cli | global executable | |
socat-chain.sh | cli | global executable | |
socat-mux.sh | cli | global executable | |
socat1 | cli | global 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 version1.8.1.3
manager updated2026-06-27
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:socat |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.8.1.3 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/socat |
| Homepage | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ |
| Repository | https://repo.or.cz/socat.git |
| Upstream docs | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/doc/socat.html |
| License | GPL-2.0-only |
| Source archive | https://distfiles.alpinelinux.org/distfiles/edge/socat-1.8.1.3.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-27T07:44:31Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | openssl@3 |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | socat |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
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%
socat 1.8.0.3-1
multipurpose relay for bidirectional data transfer
https://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo apt install socat- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
Nix95%
socat
nix profile install nixpkgs#socat- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
Ubuntu apt95%
socat 1.8.0.0-4build3
multipurpose relay for bidirectional data transfer
https://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo apt install socat- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
apk95%
socat 1.8.1.1-r0
Multipurpose relay for binary protocols
http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo apk add socat- License: GPL-2.0-only WITH OpenSSL-Exception
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: socat
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
apk95%
socat-doc 1.8.1.1-r0
Multipurpose relay for binary protocols (documentation)
http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo apk add socat-doc- License: GPL-2.0-only WITH OpenSSL-Exception
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: socat
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
apk95%
socat-scripts 1.8.1.1-r0
Multipurpose relay for binary protocols (helper scripts)
http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo apk add socat-scripts- License: GPL-2.0-only WITH OpenSSL-Exception
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: socat
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
dnf95%
socat 1.8.1.0-2.fc45
Bidirectional data relay between two data channels ('netcat++')
http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo dnf install socat- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: socat
- 6 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
pacman95%
socat 1.8.1.1-1
Multipurpose relay
http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo pacman -S socat- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
zypper95%
socat 1.8.1.1-1.2
Multipurpose relay for bidirectional data transfer
http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo zypper install socat- License: MIT AND SUSE-GPL-2.0-with-openssl-exception
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: socat
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
zypper95%
socat-extra 1.8.1.1-1.2
Additional scripts for socat
http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/
sudo zypper install socat-extra- License: MIT AND SUSE-GPL-2.0-with-openssl-exception
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: socat
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
MacPorts95%
socat
sudo port install socat- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Socat
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.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
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