# CVE-2024-4978: Justice AV Solutions (JAVS) Viewer Installer Embedded Malicious Code

> A malicious binary in Justice AV Solutions Viewer allows remote privileged attackers to execute unauthorized PowerShell commands via a compromised installer.

- **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 29 May 2024 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 23 May 2024
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wf54-f8v9-v72v

## What is CVE-2024-4978?

CVE-2024-4978 is a high-severity vulnerability in Justice AV Solutions Viewer, published on 23 May 2024. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Justice AV Solutions Viewer Setup 8.3.7.250-1 contains a malicious binary when executed and is signed with an unexpected authenticode signature. A remote, privileged threat actor may exploit this vulnerability to execute of unauthorized PowerShell commands.

Weakness: CWE-506 (Embedded Malicious Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-4978?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Javs Javs Viewer.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-4978?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-4978 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 19 Jun 2024.

## Is CVE-2024-4978 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2024-4978 in the wild since at least 29 May 2024.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-4978 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-4978 is a high-severity vulnerability in Justice AV Solutions Viewer, published on 23 May 2024. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2024-4978 in the wild since at least 29 May 2024.

Affected product: Justice AV Solutions Viewer. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4978/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4978/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-4978
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-4978
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-4978

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4978/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.