macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install socatprovider-native install command
brew / rank 570
Install socat with Homebrew
SOcket CAT: netcat on steroids. Version 1.8.1.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-27.
install
Additional install commands
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 bottle metadata was recorded.
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 | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
procan | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
socat | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
socat-broker.sh | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
socat-chain.sh | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
socat-mux.sh | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
socat1 | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
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 generated2026-08-03
manager version1.8.1.3
manager updated2026-06-27
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:socat |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.8.1.3 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/ |
| Last updated | 2026-06-27T07:44:31Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
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
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation