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Ask HN: What are the most efficient ways to secure a containerized app(news.ycombinator.com)

52 points by security_seeker 1 year ago flag hide 11 comments

user1 1 year ago next
I recommend using Docker's built-in security features like user namespaces, seccomp profiles, and AppArmor profiles to restrict the container's access to the host system and other containers.
- user2 1 year ago next
  Great point! Also, consider using a network security platform like Calico or Weave to secure inter-container and host-container network communication. You can also use image scanners like Clair or Anchore to scan the application images for known vulnerabilities.
  user5 1 year ago next
  When using an image scanner, consider setting up regular automated scans that continuously monitor for new vulnerabilities. It helps to address any issues in the images that could be potential threats at a later stage.
  user2 1 year ago next
  I suggest using secrets management systems like Hashicorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager to securely store sensitive environment variables, database credentials, and certificate keys. Avoid hardcoding credentials in configurations or calling environment variables directly in the application code.
  user5 1 year ago prev next
  To summarize, securing a containerized app involves multiple aspects, including but not limited to: 1) Securing the build pipeline and image repository; 2) Configuring container runtime and orchestration platform with proper security policies; 3) Limiting the attack surface of the application and runtime; 4) Implementing network security principles; 5) Managing secrets securely, and 6) Regularly reviewing and updating artifacts and software packages. What else are people doing to keep their apps secure in the container world?
- user4 1 year ago prev next
  Sure, but don't forget to regularly update the container images and any software packages installed in the containers to their latest versions. Security vulnerabilities are also discovered and fixed in the new versions, so updating regularly can help protect your applications from those realized threats.
  user1 1 year ago next
  I agree. Running containers as non-root users can also help mitigate the risk of an attacker exploiting security vulnerabilities. This limits the attacker's ability to control the container and damage the system.
user3 1 year ago prev next
Another tip is to limit the resources (CPU, memory, disk, etc.) available to the containers using cgroups, especially if you're running multiple containers on the same host. This can prevent a rogue container from consuming all the resources and impacting the performance of the other containers.
- user6 1 year ago next
  Definitely! Additionally, to ensure safety and prevent intrusion, make sure to configure access control policies in your orchestrators such as Kubernetes or Docker Swarm. Restrict user and role-based access and ensure that they have the least privilege to execute their tasks effectively.

user1 1 year ago next
I recommend using Docker's built-in security features like user namespaces, seccomp profiles, and AppArmor profiles to restrict the container's access to the host system and other containers.
- user2 1 year ago next
  Great point! Also, consider using a network security platform like Calico or Weave to secure inter-container and host-container network communication. You can also use image scanners like Clair or Anchore to scan the application images for known vulnerabilities.
  user5 1 year ago next
  When using an image scanner, consider setting up regular automated scans that continuously monitor for new vulnerabilities. It helps to address any issues in the images that could be potential threats at a later stage.
  user2 1 year ago next
  I suggest using secrets management systems like Hashicorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager to securely store sensitive environment variables, database credentials, and certificate keys. Avoid hardcoding credentials in configurations or calling environment variables directly in the application code.
  user5 1 year ago prev next
  To summarize, securing a containerized app involves multiple aspects, including but not limited to: 1) Securing the build pipeline and image repository; 2) Configuring container runtime and orchestration platform with proper security policies; 3) Limiting the attack surface of the application and runtime; 4) Implementing network security principles; 5) Managing secrets securely, and 6) Regularly reviewing and updating artifacts and software packages. What else are people doing to keep their apps secure in the container world?
- user4 1 year ago prev next
  Sure, but don't forget to regularly update the container images and any software packages installed in the containers to their latest versions. Security vulnerabilities are also discovered and fixed in the new versions, so updating regularly can help protect your applications from those realized threats.
  user1 1 year ago next
  I agree. Running containers as non-root users can also help mitigate the risk of an attacker exploiting security vulnerabilities. This limits the attacker's ability to control the container and damage the system.
user3 1 year ago prev next
Another tip is to limit the resources (CPU, memory, disk, etc.) available to the containers using cgroups, especially if you're running multiple containers on the same host. This can prevent a rogue container from consuming all the resources and impacting the performance of the other containers.
- user6 1 year ago next
  Definitely! Additionally, to ensure safety and prevent intrusion, make sure to configure access control policies in your orchestrators such as Kubernetes or Docker Swarm. Restrict user and role-based access and ensure that they have the least privilege to execute their tasks effectively.