# parsel insecure cryptography algorithm

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/parsel-insecure-cryptography-algorithm-6f0562bb  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2020-09-04. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

Severity: info · Published 2020-09-04

parsel is a JavaScript library for encryption. The package uses an insecure encryption method (AES-256-CBC without integrity checks) that allows attackers to manipulate encrypted data through bit-flipping attacks. Applications relying on parsel for data protection are vulnerable to unauthorized data modification without detection.

Technologies: [parsel (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/parsel). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is This vulnerability exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of This vulnerability being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is This vulnerability?** Informational severity, published 4 September 2020.

**Which products and versions are affected?** parsel (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0.0.0.

**Is there a fix for This vulnerability?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is This vulnerability attacked?** It is attacked over the network or with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected?** Check whether you run parsel (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

parsel implements insecure cryptography by using AES-256-CBC encryption without authenticated encryption or integrity verification (CWE-327). The vulnerable component is the core encryption mechanism, which is exploitable via a network or local vector if an attacker can intercept and modify ciphertext. An attacker can perform bit-flipping attacks to alter encrypted messages without invalidating the ciphertext, allowing unauthorized modification of protected data. The package is deprecated and will not receive updates; users should migrate to alternative encryption libraries.

## Affected products

- parsel parsel all versions

## Timeline

- 2020-09-04: disclosed

## References

- [https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1461](https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1461)

## Related threats

- [parsel insufficient entropy in key derivation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/parsel-insufficient-entropy-in-key-derivation-a96d03b3)
- [parsel hardcoded initialization vector in encryption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/parsel-hardcoded-initialization-vector-in-encryption-b83ca35a)