⭕Yubikey Firmware
Can you upgrade the firmware on your Yubikey? This section explains what firmware is, and what to do when your Yubikey becomes outdated.
❊ What Is Firmware?
Firmware is a specific class of computer software which provides low-level control for a device's specific hardware. Typically firmware is stored on EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), and is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers or computer related devices.
To get an idea of what makes up a Yubikey, a few of the known controller chips used to manufacturer Yubikeys have been provided below. These controller chips may vary depending on the type of Yubikey you've purchased, but it gives an idea as to what makes a Yubikey work.
| Controller Chip | EEPROM / Flash | Device |
|---|---|---|
76 kB | Yubikey 4 | |
4 kB / 32kB | Yubikey 4 | |
| Yubikey 5 |
Fun Fact:
Current estimates on parts to make a Yubikey puts the manufacturing cost at roughly $5 - 6.00 USD.
*Note: Datasheets on the Infineon MCU for Yubikey 5 are very minimal. Info claims that the chip simply has 500kB of non-volatile memory and 16kB RAM (volatile). Yubikey 4 -> Yubikey 5 models went from a two controller chip setup to a single controller chip and switched chip manufacturers.
❊ Yubikey Firmware
The firmware in a Yubikey is included with the device itself, and is physically stored as programming within the EEPROM (or ROM -- ready-only memory). This firmware determines what features your Yubikey has and what it supports. Firmware is released by Yubico, which provides security improvements, as well as support for new features.
❊ Upgrading Firmware
The Yubikey itself contains non-upgradable firmware. This means that whatever firmware the Yubikey shipped with when you made your order, is the firmware you will keep. The reason for non-upgradable firmware is to prevent attacks on the YubiKey which might compromise its security.
❊ Newer Firmware
Due to the fact that a Yubikey's firmware is non-upgradable, if you see a press release announcing a new version of the firmware being released with a particular feature that you want, you will need to purchase a new Yubikey.
To ensure that you get the latest firmware, during the process of placing your order; you may include an order note with something similar to the following:
❊ Checking Firmware
To see what firmware your Yubikey is running, you can use the following methods:
YUBIKEY MANAGER
The software should take a few seconds to load, and display your firmware version on the far left side of the interface.
YKMAN COMMAND-LINE
Launch Command Prompt, Terminal, or Powershell.
Execute the command:
The following information should show.
The highlighted area is the output for your current Yubikey firmware.
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