How to prevent container escape attacks?

To prevent container escape attacks, you need to implement multiple layers of security controls to isolate containers from the host system and other containers. Here’s how:

1. Use a Secure Container Runtime

   • Choose a runtime with strong isolation features, such as gVisor or Kata Containers, which add extra layers of protection between the container and the host kernel.
   • Example: Running untrusted workloads in gVisor prevents direct access to the host OS by intercepting system calls.

2. Keep Container Images Updated

   • Regularly update base images and dependencies to patch known vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to escape.
   • Example: Use CVE scanning tools (like those in Tencent Cloud Container Registry) to detect vulnerabilities before deployment.

3. Restrict Privileges

   • Avoid running containers as root. Use non-root users and apply least privilege principles.
   • Example: Set USER nonroot in Dockerfiles and enforce it via Kubernetes PodSecurityPolicies (or OPA/Gatekeeper).

4. Enable Namespace and Seccomp/AppArmor Profiles

   • Use Linux namespaces, seccomp (to restrict system calls), and AppArmor/SELinux (to enforce file and process restrictions).
   • Example: Configure Docker with --security-opt seccomp=profile.json to limit dangerous syscalls.

5. Isolate Critical Workloads

   • Deploy sensitive containers in separate virtual machines (VMs) or use VM-based container solutions (like Tencent Cloud’s TKE with Kata Containers) for stronger isolation.

6. Monitor and Audit Container Activity

   • Use runtime security tools (like Falco) to detect suspicious behaviors, such as attempts to access host files or processes.
   • Example: Deploy Falco on Kubernetes to alert on unexpected container escapes.

7. Leverage Tencent Cloud Security Services

   • Tencent Cloud Container Registry (TCR) provides vulnerability scanning for images.
   • Tencent Kubernetes Engine (TKE) supports network policies, runtime security, and integrates with Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) for threat detection.

By combining these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of container escape attacks.