Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
AVG AntiVirus for macOS had a detection gap before scan engine 4668: it might not inspect content inside DMG disk image files. An attacker could use that packaging format to reduce the chance that malware is detected before a user interacts with it.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted legacy exposure issue, not a broad emergency. Prioritize quick inventory and update verification if the organization still has macOS endpoints using AVG AntiVirus.
Technical view
CVE-2017-9977 describes a malware detection bypass in AVG AntiVirus for macOS scan engines before 4668. The issue is failure to scan inside DMG files. The public record provides no CVSS score, CWE, CPE mapping, or detailed vendor advisory in the supplied bundle.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely limited to legacy macOS endpoints running AVG AntiVirus with a scan engine earlier than 4668, especially where DMG files are received from email, web downloads, or file sharing.
Exploitation context
The sources say remote attackers might bypass malware detection by using DMG files. There is no supplied evidence of active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as CISA KEV in the bundle.
Researcher notes
The evidence is thin: the bundle provides the CVE description, CVE sources, and one Nightwatch Cybersecurity reference. No CVSS, CWE, CPE, exploit confirmation, or detailed remediation advisory is included.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory macOS endpoints running AVG AntiVirus.
- Verify AVG scan engine versions are 4668 or later.
- Update AVG using vendor-supported update channels.
- Review current AVG or Avast vendor guidance for legacy macOS coverage.
- Reduce reliance on DMG scanning by affected legacy endpoints.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether AVG AntiVirus for macOS exists in endpoint inventory.
- Check recorded scan engine versions against the 4668 threshold.
- Review email and web controls for DMG file handling.
- Confirm endpoint protection updates are still supported on affected Macs.
- Document any unsupported legacy macOS systems requiring compensating controls.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2017-9977 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wwws.nightwatchcybersecurity.com/2017/07/06/avg-antivirus-for-macos-doesnt-scan-inside-disk-images-cve-2017-9977/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.