brew

Install opensc with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, winget, zypper

Tools and libraries for smart cards. Version 0.27.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22.

Install command Security notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install opensc

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install opensc

MacPorts ports tree · security/opensc/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add opensc

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · opensc · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install opensc

Debian stable package indexes · opensc · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install opensc

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · opensc · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#opensc

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/op/opensc/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S opensc

Arch Linux sync databases · opensc · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install opensc

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · opensc · source: download.opensuse.org

Windows

Chocolateyverified · 92%

choco install opensc

Chocolatey community package catalog · opensc · source: community.chocolatey.org

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id OpenSC.OpenSC -e

Windows Package Manager source index · OpenSC.OpenSC · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

Tools and libraries for smart cards

Project links

Commands and aliases

cardos-tool
cryptoflex-tool
dnie-tool
dtrust-tool
egk-tool
eidenv
gids-tool
goid-tool
iasecc-tool
netkey-tool
openpgp-tool
opensc-asn1
opensc-explorer
opensc-notify
opensc-tool
piv-tool
pkcs11-register
pkcs11-tool
pkcs15-crypt
pkcs15-init
pkcs15-tool
sc-hsm-tool
westcos-tool

history

Project history and usage

OpenSC provides smart-card tools and middleware, centered on cryptographic cards and tokens. It implements a PKCS#11 module, PKCS#15 support, many card-specific utilities, and platform integration pieces that let applications use private keys without extracting them from cards.

Project history

The OpenSC project dates to the early 2000s. Its project-history page records libopensc and opensc-apps 0.3.x releases in November and December 2001, and OpenSC 0.4.0 on 2001-12-29 by Juha Yrjola, Antti Tapaninen, and Timo Teras, merging libopensc and opensc-apps into one package and adding abstract card handling.

The project evolved from Unix smart-card tooling into cross-platform middleware. SourceForge metadata records the project as registered on 2001-05-03, and the modern GitHub project describes downloads for Windows installers, macOS installers, source tarballs, and nightly builds.

Adoption history

OpenSC became a common free PKCS#11 provider for cards that do not rely solely on vendor middleware. Debian describes it as a way for applications such as Firefox/Iceweasel and Thunderbird/Icedove to use smart cards via PKCS#11, while Red Hat documentation says RHEL provides the OpenSC PKCS#11 driver for smart cards by default.

Its adoption is broad in distribution terms: packages exist across Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, Nix, Chocolatey, winget, MacPorts, and openSUSE. That breadth reflects a support role for authentication, mail encryption, digital signatures, VPN/client certificates, SSH, browser certificate stores, and token debugging.

How it is used

Operators use pkcs11-tool, opensc-tool, pkcs15-tool, pkcs15-init, piv-tool, openpgp-tool, and card-specific helpers to inspect readers, list slots, initialize cards, import certificates, test PIN behavior, and exercise cryptographic operations. The package usually reads configuration from opensc.conf and integrates with PC/SC readers.

Applications use the OpenSC PKCS#11 module through NSS, p11-kit, OpenSSL integration layers, browser certificate stores, VPN clients, SSH tooling, and other software that knows PKCS#11. The OpenSC FAQ emphasizes that PKCS#11 is a software API for cryptographic hardware, while PKCS#15 is an on-card filesystem layout; OpenSC bridges both when a supported card allows it.

Why package nerds care

OpenSC is package-nerd gold because it turns hardware variance into a distro-maintained middleware stack. The package surface includes shared libraries, a PKCS#11 module, many tiny card tools, PC/SC integration, Windows MiniDriver support, macOS CryptoTokenKit/Tokend pieces, udev/system integration in some distributions, and card-driver policy encoded in opensc.conf.

Timeline

2001-05-03: SourceForge metadata records OpenSC registration.
2001-11-23: OpenSC 0.3 was created.
2001-12-29: OpenSC 0.4.0 merged libopensc and opensc-apps into one package and added abstract card handling.
2002-03-13: OpenSC 0.6.0 added card-reader abstraction and support for additional card families, according to NEWS excerpts.
2025-2026: OpenSC NEWS and wiki history show ongoing releases, card-driver fixes, PKCS#11 changes, and packaging work.

Related projects

OpenSC commonly works with pcsc-lite, CCID reader drivers, p11-kit, NSS, libp11, engine_pkcs11, pkcs11-provider, OpenSSL, GnuTLS, Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenVPN, SSH, and hardware tokens or smart cards implementing PIV, OpenPGP, PKCS#15, or vendor-specific applets.

Sources

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.
Build metadata lists 2 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: /etc/opensc.conf

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure
`cardos-tool`	cli	global executable
`cryptoflex-tool`	cli	global executable
`dnie-tool`	cli	global executable
`dtrust-tool`	cli	global executable
`egk-tool`	cli	global executable
`eidenv`	cli	global executable
`gids-tool`	cli	global executable
`goid-tool`	cli	global executable
`iasecc-tool`	cli	global executable
`netkey-tool`	cli	global executable
`openpgp-tool`	cli	global executable
`opensc-asn1`	cli	global executable
`opensc-explorer`	cli	global executable
`opensc-notify`	cli	global executable
`opensc-tool`	cli	global executable
`piv-tool`	cli	global executable
`pkcs11-register`	cli	global executable
`pkcs11-tool`	cli	global executable
`pkcs15-crypt`	cli	global executable
`pkcs15-init`	cli	global executable
`pkcs15-tool`	cli	global executable
`sc-hsm-tool`	cli	global executable
`westcos-tool`	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 version0.27.1

manager updated2026-06-22

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC

infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSCnone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:opensc
Version	0.27.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/opensc
Homepage	https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki
Repository	https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC
Upstream docs	https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/blob/master/README.md
License	LGPL-2.1-or-later
Source archive	https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/releases/download/0.27.1/opensc-0.27.1.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-06-22T14:05:44-07:00
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	openssl@3
Build dependencies	docbook-xsl, pkgconf
Uses from macOS	pcsc-lite
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared
Caveats	The OpenSSH PKCS11 smartcard integration will not work. If you need this functionality, unlink this formula, then install the OpenSC cask.

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	opensc
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

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%

opensc 0.26.1-2

Smart card utilities with support for PKCS#15 compatible cards

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo apt install opensc

Section: utils
Architecture: amd64
6 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: opensc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Debian apt95%

opensc-pkcs11 0.26.1-2

Smart card utilities (PKCS#11 module)

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo apt install opensc-pkcs11

Section: utils
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: opensc
5 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: opensc-pkcs11 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

opensc

nix profile install nixpkgs#opensc

normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/op/opensc/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

opensc 0.25.0~rc1-1build2

Smart card utilities with support for PKCS#15 compatible cards

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo apt install opensc

Section: universe/utils
Architecture: amd64
6 dependencies
1 optional deps
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: opensc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

Ubuntu apt95%

opensc-pkcs11 0.25.0~rc1-1build2

Smart card utilities (PKCS#11 module)

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo apt install opensc-pkcs11

Section: universe/utils
Architecture: amd64
Source Package: opensc
5 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: opensc-pkcs11 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

opensc 0.26.1-r0

Open source smart card tools and middleware

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC

sudo apk add opensc

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: opensc
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: opensc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

opensc-bash-completion 0.26.1-r0

Bash completions for opensc

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC

sudo apk add opensc-bash-completion

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: opensc
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: opensc-bash-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

opensc-dev 0.26.1-r0

Open source smart card tools and middleware (development files)

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC

sudo apk add opensc-dev

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: opensc
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: opensc-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

opensc-doc 0.26.1-r0

Open source smart card tools and middleware (documentation)

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC

sudo apk add opensc-doc

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: opensc
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: opensc-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

dnf95%

opensc 0.27.1-3.fc45

Smart card library and applications

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo dnf install opensc

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later AND BSD-3-Clause
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: opensc
9 dependencies
2 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: opensc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

dnf95%

opensc-libs 0.27.1-3.fc45

OpenSC libraries

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo dnf install opensc-libs

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later AND BSD-3-Clause
Category: Unspecified
Architecture: i686
Source Package: opensc
6 dependencies
4 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: opensc-libs from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

pacman95%

opensc 0.27.1-2

Tools and libraries for smart cards

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo pacman -S opensc

License: LGPL
Architecture: x86_64
3 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: opensc from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

zypper95%

opensc 0.27.1-1.2

Smart Card Utilities

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo zypper install opensc

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Category: Productivity/Security
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: opensc
8 dependencies
6 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: opensc from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

zypper95%

opensc-bash-completion 0.27.1-1.2

Bash Completion for opensc

https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki

sudo zypper install opensc-bash-completion

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
Category: Productivity/Security
Architecture: noarch
Source Package: opensc
2 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: opensc-bash-completion from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

MacPorts95%

opensc

sudo port install opensc

normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: security/opensc/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Chocolatey95%

opensc

choco install opensc

normalized package name match
Matched by: Opensc

Chocolatey community package catalog · community.chocolatey.org · Chocolatey community package catalog: opensc from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','office365homepremium'

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.

combined/opensc.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install opensc with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, winget, zypper

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Windows

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

Risk level: green

Risk classifier

Why

Signals

Install behavior

Recommended review

Configuration and credential file locations

Configuration files

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources