# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:socat ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install socat ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install socat ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/socat/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add socat ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: socat from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install socat ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: socat from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install socat ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: socat from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#socat ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/so/socat/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S socat ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: socat from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install socat ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: socat from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:socat - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.8.1.3 - **Source summary:** SOcket CAT: netcat on steroids - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-only - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-27T07:44:31Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - filan (cli) - procan (cli) - socat (cli) - socat-broker.sh (cli) - socat-chain.sh (cli) - socat-mux.sh (cli) - socat1 (cli) - filan (alias) - procan (alias) - socat (alias) - socat-broker.sh (alias) - socat-chain.sh (alias) - socat-mux.sh (alias) - socat1 (alias) ## Dependencies - openssl@3 ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.8.1.3 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-27 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** socat - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - socat - 1.8.0.3-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: socat from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | multipurpose relay for bidirectional data transfer | https://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - Nix - socat: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/so/socat/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - socat - 1.8.0.0-4build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: socat from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | multipurpose relay for bidirectional data transfer | https://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - apk - socat - 1.8.1.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: socat from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Multipurpose relay for binary protocols | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - apk - socat-doc - 1.8.1.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: socat-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Multipurpose relay for binary protocols (documentation) | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - apk - socat-scripts - 1.8.1.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: socat-scripts from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Multipurpose relay for binary protocols (helper scripts) | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - dnf - socat - 1.8.1.0-2.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: socat from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Bidirectional data relay between two data channels ('netcat++') | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - pacman - socat - 1.8.1.1-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: socat from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Multipurpose relay | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - zypper - socat - 1.8.1.1-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: socat from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Multipurpose relay for bidirectional data transfer | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - zypper - socat-extra - 1.8.1.1-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: socat-extra from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Additional scripts for socat | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ - MacPorts - socat: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/socat/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Web development packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/web-dev-tools/) - Matched web development metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [dasht](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dasht/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [ehco](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ehco/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, relay. - [dish](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dish/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, tcp. - [dns2tcp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dns2tcp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, tcp. - [hysteria](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/hysteria/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, relay. - [nak](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nak/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, relay. - [netcat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/netcat/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, tcp. - [redir](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/redir/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, tcp. - [rinetd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rinetd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, tcp. - [haproxy](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/haproxy/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, networking, openssl, openssl-3, tcp. - [tor](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tor/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, networking, openssl, openssl-3, tcp. - [bind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bind/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, networking, openssl, openssl-3. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/socat.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/socat.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph