How I Secured My Containerized Application Using Anchore (Day 29 Project)

This article details a comprehensive approach to securing containerized applications using Anchore,
a container security platform. This project demonstrates a robust security workflow suitable for beginners, intermediate users,
and experienced devel…


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Arbythecoder

This article details a comprehensive approach to securing containerized applications using Anchore,
a container security platform. This project demonstrates a robust security workflow suitable for beginners, intermediate users,
and experienced developers. We'll cover building, testing, scanning, and deploying a containerized application, emphasizing best practices throughout. While Anchore is the focus, the principles apply to other container security tools like Aqua Security, Snyk, and Trivy.

1. Project Overview:

This project integrates security scanning into a CI/CD pipeline using Anchore to ensure only secure container images are deployed.
The process involves:

  1. Development and Testing: Write, test, and refine application code.
  2. Containerization: Package the application into a Docker container.
  3. Security Scanning: Use Anchore to scan for vulnerabilities.
  4. Image Building and Pushing: Build the Docker image and push to a registry (e.g., Docker Hub) only if the scan passes.
  5. Deployment: Deploy the secure image to your target environment (e.g., Kubernetes cluster, minikube).

2. Setting up Anchore:

Before starting, you need an Anchore Enterprise instance (or a free trial). Install the Anchore CLI and configure it:

  1. Download and Install: Download the Anchore CLI from the official Anchore website. Installation instructions vary depending on your operating system.
  2. Account Creation: Create an Anchore account if you don't have one already.
  3. Authentication: Configure the CLI to authenticate with your Anchore account. This usually involves setting an API key or using other authentication methods as described in Anchore's documentation.
  4. (Optional) Policy Configuration: In the Anchore UI, you can define policies to specify vulnerability thresholds. This allows you to customize the severity level at which the scan will fail. For example, you might set a policy to fail the build if any high or critical vulnerabilities are found.

3. Project Setup and Folder Structure:

Create the project directory and files:

project-root/
├── Dockerfile
├── .github/
│   └── workflows/
│       └── ci.yml
├── src/
│   └── app.js
└── tests/
    └── app.test.js

4. Application Code (src/app.js - Node.js):

A simple Node.js Express.js application:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = 3000;

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello from Day 28!');
});

app.listen(port, () => {
  console.log(`App listening on port ${port}`);
});

5. Testing (tests/app.test.js - Jest):

Using Jest for testing the / route:

const request = require('supertest');
const app = require('../src/app');

describe('GET /', () => {
  it('should respond with Hello from Day 28!', async () => {
    const response = await request(app).get('/');
    expect(response.status).toBe(200);
    expect(response.text).toBe('Hello from Day 28!');
  });
});

6. Dockerfile:

This builds the Docker image:

FROM node:14-alpine
WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install
COPY . .
USER node
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["node", "app.js"]

7. CI/CD Pipeline with GitHub Actions (.github/workflows/ci.yml):

This workflow automates the build, test, and scan process:

name: CI/CD with Anchore Scan

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Build Docker image
        run: docker build -t myapp:latest .
      - name: Run tests
        run: npm test
      - name: Add image to Anchore #Anchore CLI must be configured (see Section 2)
        run: anchore-cli image add myapp:latest
      - name: Wait for Anchore scan
        run: anchore-cli image wait myapp:latest
      - name: Check Anchore vulnerabilities
        run: anchore-cli image vuln myapp:latest all | grep -v 'OK'
        if: ${{ steps.CheckAnchoreVulnerabilities.outcome != 'success' }}
      - name: Push to Docker Hub (if successful) #Replace with your Docker Hub details
        run: docker push docker.io/[YOUR_DOCKERHUB_USERNAME]/myapp:latest
        if: ${{ steps.CheckAnchoreVulnerabilities.outcome == 'success' }}

Remember: Replace [YOUR_DOCKERHUB_USERNAME] with your Docker Hub username. You'll need to configure your Anchore CLI credentials as a GitHub Actions secret (under your repository's settings).

8. Deployment (Minikube Example):

After a successful build and scan, deploy to minikube (or your Kubernetes cluster) using a deployment.yaml file:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: myapp-deployment
spec:
  replicas: 3
  selector:
    matchLabels:
      app: myapp
  template:
    metadata:
      labels:
        app: myapp
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: myapp-container
        image: docker.io/[YOUR_DOCKERHUB_USERNAME]/myapp:latest
        ports:
        - containerPort: 3000

9. Troubleshooting:

  • Anchore CLI Issues: Ensure the CLI is correctly installed and configured. Check Anchore's documentation for troubleshooting.
  • Build Errors: Carefully review the Dockerfile and application code for errors.
  • Deployment Errors: Verify the deployment.yaml file and Kubernetes configuration.
  • Vulnerability Findings: Address vulnerabilities reported by Anchore by updating dependencies or applying patches.

10. Alternative Container Security Tools:

While Anchore is used here, other tools like Aqua Security, Snyk, and Trivy offer similar capabilities. Explore these alternatives based on your needs and preferences.

11. Conclusion:

This project demonstrates a secure approach to containerized application development. Integrating Anchore into your CI/CD pipeline is crucial for maintaining security. Remember to adapt the code and configurations to your specific needs and always prioritize security best practices.


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Arbythecoder


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