Modern cloud infrastructure runs on containers and Kubernetes. While these technologies bring speed, scalability, and efficiency, they also introduce new security risks. As organizations shift more workloads to containerized environments, understanding the OWASP Top 10 for Docker and Kubernetes Security becomes essential for protecting applications and sensitive data.
This guide covers the most critical container and Kubernetes security risks. What they are, why they matter, and how to mitigate them with practical best practices.
1. Container Image Vulnerabilities
Containers are built from images, and those images often include outdated libraries, OS packages, or vulnerable dependencies.
Why it matters. A single vulnerable base image can expose every container derived from it.
How to mitigate.
- Use trusted base images (Alpine, Distroless, official repositories)
- Scan images with tools like Trivy, Clair, Anchore, or Snyk
- Automate vulnerability scanning in CI/CD
- Use multi-stage builds to reduce image size and attack surface
2. Misconfigured Container Runtime
Docker and container runtimes can be misconfigured with privileged mode, unsafe mounts, or excessive capabilities.
Common risks.
- Running containers as root
- Mounting host filesystem (
/var/run/docker.sock,/etc,/root) - Using privileged containers
How to mitigate.
- Drop Linux capabilities
- Use a read-only root filesystem
- Avoid
--privilegedat all costs - Enforce PodSecurity Standards (or PodSecurityPolicy legacy mode)
3. Insecure Secrets Management
Passwords, tokens, and certificates often end up hard-coded in images, ConfigMaps, or environment variables.
How to mitigate.
- Never store secrets in Docker images
- Use Kubernetes Secrets with encryption at rest
- Integrate a secure secrets engine (AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault, GCP Secret Manager)
- Rotate secrets automatically
4. Inadequate Network Segmentation and Policies
Kubernetes defaults to an allow-all network model. Without proper controls, any pod can access any other pod.
Why it matters. This increases blast radius during a compromise and enables lateral movement across workloads.
How to mitigate.
- Apply Kubernetes NetworkPolicies (Calico, Cilium, Weave)
- Isolate namespaces by function
- Restrict traffic to only required ports and directions
- Enforce zero-trust networking principles
5. Misconfigured RBAC and Excessive Privileges
Kubernetes RBAC defines who can do what. Improper role bindings allow attackers to escalate privileges.
Typical mistakes.
- Granting
cluster-adminto apps or users - Using overly broad role bindings
- Exposing the Kubernetes API without proper authentication
How to mitigate.
- Implement least-privilege RBAC policies
- Regularly audit RBAC bindings
- Use tools like kube-bench, kubeaudit, and OPA Gatekeeper to enforce RBAC standards
6. Unsafe Container Supply Chain
The supply chain includes base images, public registries, build processes, and CI/CD pipelines.
Key risks.
- Pulling images from unverified public registries
- Image tampering
- Dependency poisoning
How to mitigate.
- Use signed images (Sigstore, Notary, Cosign)
- Maintain a private container registry (ECR, GCR, ACR, Harbor)
- Enforce image provenance policies
- Scan dependencies in the build pipeline
7. Poor Cluster Configuration and Hardening
A Kubernetes cluster with default settings is rarely secure.
Examples.
- Unsecured API Server
kubeletwith anonymous access- Insecure etcd configurations
- Not enforcing audit logging
How to mitigate.
- Enable Kubernetes audit logs
- Use TLS everywhere (API server, etcd, kubelets)
- Restrict etcd access to control plane only
- Apply CIS Kubernetes Benchmark guidelines
8. Inadequate Isolation Between Containers
Containers share the same kernel. If isolation is weak, an attacker may break out of the container.
How to mitigate.
- Use gVisor, Kata Containers, or Firecracker for strong sandboxing
- Avoid sharing namespaces unnecessarily
- Enable seccomp, AppArmor, or SELinux profiles
- Limit filesystem and host mounts
9. Exposed Dashboards, APIs, and Metadata Endpoints
It is common to see insecure Kubernetes dashboards exposed publicly or EC2 metadata endpoints accessible from pods.
Risks.
- Token theft
- Unauthorized code execution
- Exposure of cloud credentials
How to mitigate.
- Never expose dashboards without authentication
- Restrict access to cloud metadata endpoints
- Use service meshes or ingress controllers with proper auth
- Implement API throttling and mutual TLS (mTLS)
10. Insufficient Monitoring, Logging, and Runtime Security
Even a well-configured cluster needs continuous monitoring to detect threats in real time.
Why it matters. Containers are ephemeral. Traditional monitoring tools are not enough.
How to mitigate.
- Use runtime security tools (Falco, Sysdig Secure, Aqua, Lacework)
- Monitor container behaviors and detect anomalies
- Enable centralized logging with ELK, CloudWatch, or Datadog
- Use admission controllers to enforce policies on pod creation
Why This Matters for Modern Businesses
Docker and Kubernetes changed how modern applications are deployed. But they demand a new security mindset. Implementing the OWASP Top 10 for container and Kubernetes security helps teams reduce the attack surface, prevent privilege escalation, protect sensitive data, and ensure compliance and operational resilience.
By combining secure configurations, strong access controls, continuous monitoring, and a trusted supply chain, organizations can run workloads at scale without compromising security.
How DigitalCoding Helps Businesses Secure Container Infrastructure
At DigitalCoding, we specialize in building secure, scalable, production-ready cloud-native solutions. Our approach includes container image security scanning and hardening, Kubernetes RBAC and network policy configuration, secrets management with HashiCorp Vault and cloud-native solutions, CI/CD pipeline security integration, runtime security monitoring and alerting, and compliance-ready cluster configurations (CIS, SOC2, PCI-DSS).
If you are running Docker or Kubernetes in production, we can help ensure your infrastructure is secure, resilient, and ready for enterprise workloads.
Ready to secure your container infrastructure? Contact us to learn how DigitalCoding can help protect your Docker and Kubernetes deployments.
