Skip to main content

DESFire library for python

Project description

Documentation Status License: MIT GitHub issues GitHub release (latest by date) GitHub top language pre-commit.ci status

Python DESFire

Full documentation is available at read the docs.

The MIFARE DESFire product provides high security RFID key tokens than can be used for contactless identity, access control or payment applications.

This package provides a simple interface of interacting with DESFire chips using pure Python. It currently supports managing keys, applications and file operations, which should cover the majority of use cases. AES-128 is fully supported both, DES/3DES currently only receives limited testing up to the extend that is needed to change the default key and create applications.

Both PC/SC readers as well as the popular PN532 reader (only UART, no SPI or I2C as of today) is supported. Please make sure to install the correct extra dependencies.

Core features:

  • Compatible with all PC/SC readers supported by pyscard or PN532 reader using UART (using pyserial as only additional dependency)
  • Support for AES and ISO authentication (DES, 2K3DES and 3K3DES). No support for legacy authentication.
  • Full crypto support including CMAC and CRC validation on all commands that require it
  • Key management change and create keys on PICC and application leven
  • Application management create and delete applications
  • File management support for standard data files is implemented, other file types are currently not available

Currently, the library has been used and tested with EV1 cards and CSL USB Reader, but other PC/SC compatible readers should work the same. It is also tested using PN532 readers, although I recommend using the Adafruit reader for better compatibility.

[!IMPORTANT] Note that NXP does not release the DESFire documentation to the public, NDA signature is required to obtain this information. The author of this package has not signed this NDA, nor does he have access to the documentation. This package has been created based on other open source work, see the Credits section below for details.

This also means that there is very limited ability to guarantee a correct implementation of all commands. The package has mainly been tested using DES and AES-128 keys. If you encounter any issues, please feel free to raise a ticket and/or submit an MR.

Documentation Sources and Credits

This library would not be possible without other amazing open source contributions that served as source of information when creating this package. Credits go to the creators and maintainers of the following repositories, in no particular order:

Project details


Download files

Download the file for your platform. If you're not sure which to choose, learn more about installing packages.

Source Distribution

python_desfire-0.1.1.tar.gz (29.4 kB view details)

Uploaded Source

Built Distribution

If you're not sure about the file name format, learn more about wheel file names.

python_desfire-0.1.1-py3-none-any.whl (34.7 kB view details)

Uploaded Python 3

File details

Details for the file python_desfire-0.1.1.tar.gz.

File metadata

  • Download URL: python_desfire-0.1.1.tar.gz
  • Upload date:
  • Size: 29.4 kB
  • Tags: Source
  • Uploaded using Trusted Publishing? No
  • Uploaded via: twine/6.1.0 CPython/3.12.8

File hashes

Hashes for python_desfire-0.1.1.tar.gz
Algorithm Hash digest
SHA256 b61efea2a2169c3ceedd0519c97b4e7fac0568fbebc024c1270f8b0814f8089b
MD5 26fd6c0e0a94b1bd2a96730f9091f72e
BLAKE2b-256 a201ac4b317e0f0e193d4c5255930744ba62182d7d0289ab54035d1ddd8500a4

See more details on using hashes here.

File details

Details for the file python_desfire-0.1.1-py3-none-any.whl.

File metadata

  • Download URL: python_desfire-0.1.1-py3-none-any.whl
  • Upload date:
  • Size: 34.7 kB
  • Tags: Python 3
  • Uploaded using Trusted Publishing? No
  • Uploaded via: twine/6.1.0 CPython/3.12.8

File hashes

Hashes for python_desfire-0.1.1-py3-none-any.whl
Algorithm Hash digest
SHA256 820c170d68dd59f29f8a6417445bada35a383bb20beef5237f3993a0eb4b75b8
MD5 3022b5a38ec1e9666b3e6063ea09489a
BLAKE2b-256 0a61d48b2e456097c860a590b39147a9d5407df83846ec4f398ae4690275a889

See more details on using hashes here.

Supported by

AWS Cloud computing and Security Sponsor Datadog Monitoring Depot Continuous Integration Fastly CDN Google Download Analytics Pingdom Monitoring Sentry Error logging StatusPage Status page