Containers are Linux processes with isolation, not hard security boundaries. The shared kernel remains the core risk: kernel bugs, broad capabilities, and weak defaults can affect all workloads on a host. Key security controls include running as non-root, dropping capabilities, using seccomp/AppArmor/SELinux, setting cgroup resource limits, and leveraging Linux namespaces correctly. For stronger isolation, gVisor, Kata Containers, or Firecracker microVMs provide additional kernel separation. Supply chain security matters too: pin image digests, avoid baking secrets into images, sign images with cosign, and use admission control. Vulnerability scanning is useful but imperfect. Network security requires default-deny policies and mTLS for service-to-service traffic. Runtime protection via eBPF-based syscall monitoring helps detect anomalous behavior. Containerization does not fix application-level vulnerabilities like the OWASP Top 10. Practical first steps: non-root containers, capability drops, memory/PID limits, seccomp, and image digest pinning.
Table of contents
Container Security Follows Old RulesContainer Isolation with Linux NamespacesVirtual Machines Give You a Harder WallContainer Images and Software Supply Chain SecurityMost Container Escapes Start with Bad ChoicesNetwork Security Is About Cutting Off PathsSecrets Management in ContainersContainer Runtime ProtectionContainers Do Not Save You From The OWASP Top 10What To Fix First if Your Setup Is WeakThe End!Sort: