libfreefare-bin¶
Tools for MIFARE DESFire, Ultralight and Classic over libnfc
- Version recorded: 0.4.0
- Categories:
rfid - Upstream: https://github.com/nfc-tools/libfreefare
What it does¶
Utilities built on libfreefare for working with the MIFARE card family, including DESFire application and key management, which the older tools do not handle at all.
Why you would want it¶
DESFire is what MIFARE Classic deployments are replaced with, and it is not broken in the same way. Having tools for it is the difference between studying a card technology and studying only its obsolete predecessor.
Before it will work¶
A libnfc-supported reader — see the nfc-reader hardware class for identifiers and permissions.
How it installs¶
- apt:
libfreefare-bin
Known problems¶
DESFire's security actually works: without the keys there is very little to see, which is the point. Upstream activity is low — every target ships the same 0.4.0 release (apt-cache policy on all four, 2026-08-28), and there has been no upstream release beyond it.
Keeping it current¶
- probe: apt policy
- strategy: apt_upgrade