A Practical RFID Grouping Authentication Protocolin Multiple-Tag Arrangement with Adequate
Security Assurance
Jian Shen* ** *** ****, Haowen Tan****, Yongjun Ren****, Qi Liu****, Baowei Wang*****Jiangsu Engineering Center of Network Monitoring, Nanjing University of Information Science &Technology, China**Jiangsu Technology & Engineering Center of Meteorological Sensor Network, Nanjing Universityof Information Science & Technology, China*** Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center on Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology,Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, China**** School of Computer & Software, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Chinas shenjian@126.com, tan halloween@foxmail.com, renyj100@126.com, qrankl@163.com, wbw.first@163.com

Abstract—-Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is considered to be an authentication technology of great potential.
Due to the bright future of low-cost RFID tags in practical situations, the authentication towards multiple tags and tag
groups has become the research hotspot. However, there are many concerns about the security risks and privacy issues
in lightweight RFID authentication scenarios. Many researches achievements have been made focusing on the existenceof single tag in one object, while the arrangement that multiple tags attached to one object is out of consideration. In thispaper, we propose a practical RFID grouping authentication protocol in multiple-tag arrangement with adequate security
assurance. In our assumption, one object to be authenticated is attached with a group of RFID tags. The feedback
towards various cases of the RFID tags is timely provided, which is necessary in practical situations. Additionally,
the probable position and status of the object can be ascertained with a number of tags combined with the object.
Moreover, the protocol is proved to offer enough security assurances and have resistance to various attacks under thesecurity analysis. The regular operation of RFID system will not be severely damaged by the incidents occurred during
the authentication process.
Keywords—RFID, lightweight, grouping authentication, multiple tag, security.
Jian Shen received the B.E. degree from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China, in 2007 andthe M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea, in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Sincelate 2012, he has been a faculty member in the School of Computer and Software at Nanjing University of Information Science andTechnology, Nanjing, China. His research interests include computer networking, security systems, mobile computing and networking,ad hoc networks and systems, and ubiquitous sensor.

Haowen Tan received the B.E. degree in 2013 and is currently working toward the M.E. degree at Nanjing University of Information
Science and Technology, Nanjing, China. He focuses on the security and privacy issues in radio frequency identification. His researchinterests include authentication protocol design, security formal modeling and analysis.

Yongjun Ren obtained the PhD degree in the computer and science department at the NanJing University of Aeronautics andAstronautics, China, in 2008. Now he is serving as a full time faculty in the NanJing University of Information science and Technology.
His research interests include network security and applied cryptography.

Qi Liu received his BSc degree in Computer Science and Technology from Zhuzhou Institute of Technology, China in 2003, andhis MSc and PhD in Data Telecommunications and Networks from the University of Salford, UK in 2006 and 2010. His researchinterests include context awareness, data communication in MANET and WSN, and smart grid. His recent research work focuses on
intelligent agriculture and meteorological observation systems based on WSN.

Baowei Wang received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from Hunan University in 2005 and 2011, respectively. He
is currently working as a lecturer in School of Computer and Software, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology.
His research interests include steganography, wireless networks and securing ad hoc networks.