ISO/IEC 21277:2018

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 21277
First edition
2018-02
Information technology — Radio
frequency identification device
performance test methods — Crypto
suite
Technologies de l'information — Méthodes de test de performance
des systèmes d'identification par radiofréquence (RFID) — Suites
cryptographiques
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2018
© ISO/IEC 2018
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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ii © ISO/IEC 2018 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 2
5 Measurement context . 2
6 Setup of test equipment . 2
7 System parameters . 3
7.1 General . 3
7.2 Crypto performance . 3
7.3 Interrogator-system architecture . 3
8 Measurements in scope . 3
9 Test method . 4
Annex A (informative) Interrogator crypto suite implementation . 7
Annex B (informative) Security suite application considerations . 8
Bibliography . 9
© ISO/IEC 2018 – All rights reserved iii

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical
activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work. In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee,
ISO/IEC JTC 1.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for
the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
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For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: www .iso .org/ iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
iv © ISO/IEC 2018 – All rights reserved

Introduction
ISO/IEC 18000 defines the air interfaces for radio frequency identification (RFID) devices used in item
management applications. ISO/IEC 18000-63 defines the air interface for these devices operating at
frequencies from 860 MHz to 960 MHz Type C.
ISO/IEC 29167 defines crypto suite air interfaces for ISO/IEC 18000-63 utilising on tag cryptography
functions.
This document provides test methods for performance measurement of the ISO/IEC 29167 devices.
NOTE This specification is a system measurement of tag and interrogator performance.
© ISO/IEC 2018 – All rights reserved v

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 21277:2018(E)
Information technology — Radio frequency identification
device performance test methods — Crypto suite
1 Scope
This document defines test methods to measure the performance of crypto suites of radio frequency
identification (RFID) devices (tags and interrogators) for item management as specified in
ISO/IEC 18000-63 and ISO/IEC 29167 (all parts).
These test methods measure the crypto suite system performance (tags and interrogators) against
the crypto suite outcomes as required by the desired set of use case requirements for a specific
application/service. These test methods are used as an extension of ISO/IEC 18046-1 but can be used in
a standalone manner.
Crypto suite performance can vary substantially between crypto suites, implementations of a crypto
suite for tags and interrogators and crypto suite outcomes in specific interrogation scenarios. Tag
crypto functions require time and energy to complete successfully. The desired crypto strength and
method influence the time and energy required. “Crypto suite performance” is therefore defined in this
document as “the shortest time to complete a crypto outcome at a given read distance in relation to the
RF power available”. This document provides guidelines in the evaluation of the measurement results.
The test methods do not measure crypto capabilities which include crypto strength, suitability and
robustness. They neither measure random generator performance nor deal with key management.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 18000-63, Information technology — Radio frequency identification for item management —
Part 63: Parameters for air interface communications at 860 MHz to 960 MHz Type C
ISO/IEC 18046-1, Information technology — Radio frequency identification device performance test
methods — Part 1: Test methods for system performance
ISO/IEC 19762, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 19762 and ISO/IEC 18000-
63 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
© ISO/IEC 2018 – All rights reserved 1

4 Symbols and abbreviated terms
4.1 Symbols
For the purposes of this document, symbols given in ISO/IEC 19762 and ISO/IEC 18000-63 apply.
4.2 Abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the abbreviated terms given in ISO/IEC 19762 and ISO/IEC 18000-
63 apply.
5 Measurement context
The combination of ISO/IEC 18000-63 and ISO/IEC 29167 provides a set of security outcomes by
utilising on-chip cryptography functions. The set of potential crypto functions are as follows:
1) Authentication – this method may be used where the physical interrogation environment ensures
that the risk of over the air splicing or message confusion is countered within the scope of the
overall security risk.
a) Tag – the interrogator trusts the tag.
b) Interrogator – the tag trusts the interrogator.
c) Mutual – the tag and the interrogator trust each other.
2) Communication
a) Authenticated communication – This counters over the air splicing or message confusion.
Tag => Interrogator – the interrogator trusts the message from the authenticated tag.
Interrogator => Tag – the tag trusts the message from the authenticated interrogator.
Interrogator <=> Tag – the tag and interrogator trust each other's messages.
b) Encrypted communication – This counters eavesdropping.
Tag => Interrogator – messages from the tag can only be recovered by the interrogator.
Interrogator => Tag – messages from the interrogator can only be recovered by the tag.
Interrogator <=> Tag – messages can only be recovered by the two participants.
c) Authenticated and encrypted communication (a and b).
Tag => Interrogator
Interrogator => Tag
Interrogator <=> Tag
3) Untraceability may be achieved by ensuring that the tag cannot be uniquely recognised by the
messages between the tag and the interrogator.
6 Setup of test equipment
Test equipment shall be setup in accordance with ISO/IEC 18046-1.
Duration may be measured by programming the interrogator to perform interrogation duration
measurement or by using a spectrum analyser. Whichever is used shall be noted on the test report.
2 © ISO/IEC 2018 – All rights reserved

7 System parameters
7.1 General
These system parameters, while not addressed by the specification, should be considered by users.
7.2 Crypto performance
Crypto performance normally refers to crypto strength, suitability and robustness, which is associated
with key length, crypto algorithms, hash function, time to process, energy required to process, to
name a few.
The applicability of the crypto method of a crypto suite should be performed by inspection which needs
to consider the following:
1) The system (which uses the crypto suites) implementation needs to address the risk profile of the
system use.
2) Random generator performance of both the tag and the interrogator.
3) Crypto strength.
4) Key management.
5) Revocation of compromised tags or sets of tags because of a compromised key.
6) Roll-over to news keys sets, maintaining operability of deployed tags and future proving data
structure changes.
NOTE 1 The following specifications (of many more) can assist in evaluating points 1 and 2:
— FIPS 140-2;
— NIST/SP 800-22, Rev. 1a.
NOTE 2 Items 3) to 6) are complex issues which extend beyond key lengths and key configures within the
digital domain. See NIST/SP 800-57-1, Rev. 4 and NIST/SP 800-131A, Rev. 1.
7.3 Interrogator-system architecture
The overall performance of a crypto suite enable application/service/system should be analysed to
determine the suitability of the crypto suite within the system. For example; data network latency
and the design of the crypto suit interrogator sub-system (see Annex A) may influence crypto suite
performance within a system. This analysis is beyond the scope of this document.
8 Measurements in scope
ISO/IEC 29167-1 specifies the particular outcomes achievable by a crypto suite implementation. The
measurement of the desired outcomes should be evaluated in the wider context of the desired security
system it enables; see Annex B.
If supported, the following crypto suite outcomes should be measured for performance:
1) Tag authentication;
2) Interrogator authentication;
3) Mutual authentication;
4) Authentic message: Tag => Interrogator;
© ISO/IEC 2018 – All rights reserved 3

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