009-docker-security.md

Chapter 9: Docker Security Best Practices

Security is a critical aspect of working with Docker, especially in production environments. This chapter will cover essential security practices to help you build and maintain secure Docker environments.

1. Keep Docker Updated

Always use the latest version of Docker to benefit from the most recent security patches.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade docker-ce

2. Use Official Images

Whenever possible, use official images from Docker Hub or trusted sources. These images are regularly updated and scanned for vulnerabilities.

version: '3.8'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx:latest  # Official Nginx image

3. Scan Images for Vulnerabilities

Use tools like Docker Scout or Trivy to scan your images for known vulnerabilities.

docker scout cve <image_name>

4. Limit Container Resources

Prevent Denial of Service attacks by limiting container resources:

version: '3.8'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx:latest
    deploy:
      resources:
        limits:
          cpus: '0.50'
          memory: 50M

5. Use Non-Root Users

Run containers as non-root users to limit the potential impact of a container breach:

FROM node:14
RUN groupadd -r myapp && useradd -r -g myapp myuser
USER myuser

6. Use Secret Management

For sensitive data like passwords and API keys, use Docker secrets:

echo "mysecretpassword" | docker secret create db_password -

Then in your docker-compose.yml:

version: '3.8'
services:
  db:
    image: mysql
    secrets:
      - db_password
secrets:
  db_password:
    external: true

7. Enable Content Trust

Sign and verify image tags:

export DOCKER_CONTENT_TRUST=1
docker push myrepo/myimage:latest

8. Use Read-Only Containers

When possible, run containers in read-only mode:

version: '3.8'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx
    read_only: true
    tmpfs:
      - /tmp
      - /var/cache/nginx

9. Implement Network Segmentation

Use Docker networks to isolate containers:

version: '3.8'
services:
  frontend:
    networks:
      - frontend
  backend:
    networks:
      - backend
networks:
  frontend:
  backend:

10. Regular Security Audits

Regularly audit your Docker environment using tools like Docker Bench for Security:

docker run -it --net host --pid host --userns host --cap-add audit_control \
    -e DOCKER_CONTENT_TRUST=$DOCKER_CONTENT_TRUST \
    -v /var/lib:/var/lib \
    -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
    -v /usr/lib/systemd:/usr/lib/systemd \
    -v /etc:/etc --label docker_bench_security \
    docker/docker-bench-security

11. Use Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) or AppArmor

These provide an additional layer of security. Ensure they're enabled and properly configured on your host system.

12. Implement Logging and Monitoring

Use Docker's logging capabilities and consider integrating with external monitoring tools:

version: '3.8'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx
    logging:
      driver: "json-file"
      options:
        max-size: "200k"
        max-file: "10"

Conclusion

Implementing these security best practices will significantly improve the security posture of your Docker environments. Remember, security is an ongoing process, and it's important to stay informed about the latest security threats and Docker security features.