How to access a SIM card programmatically?

Question

Just any old GSM compatible SIM card (bonus for 3G USIM).

I presume I need some hardware? Can anyone recommend something cheap for hobbyist, and something more professio

Answer 1

1. pySim

   In the below example, we are changing the card’s IMSI to 901700000003080 (option -i) and we are specifying a new set of -n NAME (Operator name), -t TYPE (Card type), -c CC (Country code), -x MCC (Mobile Country Code), -y MNC (Mobile Network Code) and -s ID (Integrated Circuit Card ID) values.

   $ ./pySim-prog.py -p 0 -n OpenBSC -t sysmosim-gr1 -i 901700000003080 -c 001 -x 001 -y 02 -s 1791198229180000075
   

Is it enough just filling the new SIM card with new meta and will it working the same way as original? pyusb

Here is the full list of options:

$ ./pySim-prog.py -help
  Usage: pySim-prog.py [options]  Options:   
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -d DEV, --device=DEV  Serial Device for SIM access [default: /dev/ttyUSB0]
  -b BAUD, --baud=BAUD  Baudrate used for SIM access [default: 9600]
  -p PCSC, --pcsc-device=PCSC
                        Which PC/SC reader number for SIM access
  -t TYPE, --type=TYPE  Card type (user -t list to view) [default: auto]
  -a PIN_ADM, --pin-adm=PIN_ADM
                        ADM PIN used for provisioning (overwrites default)
  -e, --erase           Erase beforehand [default: False]   
  -S SOURCE, --source=SOURCE
                        Data Source[default: cmdline]
  -n NAME, --name=NAME  Operator name [default: Magic]
  -c CC, --country=CC   Country code [default: 1]
  -x MCC, --mcc=MCC     Mobile Country Code [default: 901]
  -y MNC, --mnc=MNC     Mobile Network Code [default: 55]
  -m SMSC, --smsc=SMSC  SMSP [default: '00 + country code + 5555']
  -M SMSP, --smsp=SMSP  Raw SMSP content in hex [default: auto from SMSC]
  -s ID, --iccid=ID     Integrated Circuit Card ID
  -i IMSI, --imsi=IMSI  International Mobile Subscriber Identity
  -k KI, --ki=KI        Ki (default is to randomize)
  -o OPC, --opc=OPC     OPC (default is to randomize)
  --op=OP               Set OP to derive OPC from OP and KI
  --acc=ACC             Set ACC bits (Access Control Code). not all card types are supported
  -z STR, --secret=STR  Secret used for ICCID/IMSI autogen
  -j NUM, --num=NUM     Card # used for ICCID/IMSI autogen
  --batch               Enable batch mode [default: False]
  --batch-state=FILE    Optional batch state file
  --read-csv=FILE       Read parameters from CSV file rather than command line
  --write-csv=FILE      Append generated parameters in CSV file
  --write-hlr=FILE      Append generated parameters to OpenBSC HLR sqlite3
  --dry-run             Perform a 'dry run', don't actually program the card

The source code is available.

2. Also the SIM card is just a smart card. You can use pyscard or pyusb to operate on it. I found this Q&A helpful.