With the integration of containerization and moving towards microservices, Docker images are one of the pillars of current applications. However, insecure images can cause huge security threats in a system. Docker image security is critical, especially in legal or high-risk areas. Over the year 2025, the measures that have emerged as best practice for protecting Docker images remain fluid.
Platforms such as RapidFort have made security easier to achieve in the modern world by offering well-optimized and safe container images spearheaded by Zero CVE images that are already taking root in production environments.
Use Zero CVE Images as the Default
Reducing the number of container vulnerabilities should be done using original and clean OS templates with zero CVEs for the container. These container images are tested and built with no known CVEs at the time of building. It offers a clean and more secure platform for the development of applications, and these applications are also easily deployable.
Zero-CVE Kubernetes images are beneficial for regulated businesses and areas with strict compliance requirements, as they mean that new security patches will be needed much less frequently.
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Continuously Monitor and Harden Images
Security doesn’t stop after deployment. That is why the new release features continuous monitoring. Hardened images are further minimised to remove unnecessary libraries and tools in the system.
RapidFort is one of the advanced tools that can facilitate this by providing dynamic runtime analysis and excluding packages not currently in use by applications. This leads to obtaining container images with fewer possible vulnerabilities that might be used to attack the system.
Scan Images During CI/CD Pipelines
Scanning the images within the CI/CD pipelines allows vulnerabilities to be spotted early. Scanners run to look for CVEs, outdated dependencies, and misconfigurations before secure container images are released.
This best practice checklist makes Docker image security not just an add-on process but an integral part of the DevOps process. Real-time CVE databases ensure that the scanners used are up to date for security validation.
Sign and Verify Docker Images
This means that image signing helps maintain the sanctity and credibility of images. To ensure that Docker zero CVE images have not been changed before being deployed, some of the ways are by signing Docker images using Docker Content Trust (DCT) or Notary.
This is especially helpful in creating an added layer of security, especially in an organization with a distributed team or an organization using public container registry services. Applying this type of checkpoint, focusing only on signed images, enhances the supply chain security.
Limit Image Privileges and Use Minimal Base Images
Booting minimal base images like Alpine or Debian-slim decreases the image size and removes libraries that might contain vulnerable packages. Reducing the capabilities within the containers by running the containers as a non-root user can help reduce the possible effects of exploitation.
Minimalistic and hardened sources used to create cartridges are also free of CVEs and use fewer resources, making them perfect for performance-critical productions.
