# parsel insufficient entropy in key derivation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/parsel-insufficient-entropy-in-key-derivation-a96d03b3  
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 package for cryptographic key derivation. The package uses an insecure one-round SHA256 hashing function instead of proper key stretching, allowing attackers to exploit keys with insufficient entropy. The package is deprecated and will not receive security updates.

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, 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 an insecure key derivation function (KDF) by passing arbitrary-length keys through a single round of SHA256 hashing for key stretching, violating best practices for key derivation. The vulnerability (CWE-331: Insufficient Entropy) allows the use of low-entropy keys without proper computational cost to resist brute-force attacks. This affects all versions of the package. The parsel package is deprecated with no planned updates, making remediation only possible through migration to alternative cryptographic libraries that implement proper KDFs (e.g., PBKDF2, bcrypt, or scrypt).

## Affected products

- parsel parsel all versions

## Timeline

- 2020-09-04: disclosed

## References

- [https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1462](https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1462)

## Related threats

- [parsel insecure cryptography algorithm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/parsel-insecure-cryptography-algorithm-6f0562bb)
- [parsel hardcoded initialization vector in encryption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/parsel-hardcoded-initialization-vector-in-encryption-b83ca35a)