Author: Md. Afzal Hassan Ehsani

Introduction to Snyk: Your Container Security Companion

It checks for vulnerabilities (weak spots) in your code and dependencies (libraries or tools your code relies on) and tells you how to fix them.

So, why is this important? In today’s digital world, security breaches are serious and costly—imagine a financial institution storing sensitive customer information in a Docker container that’s vulnerable to attacks! Integrating Snyk helps teams detect and fix these issues before they reach production, reducing risks.

With Snyk, you can:

Find vulnerabilities: It scans Docker images for hidden issues.
Get guidance on fixes: Snyk doesn’t just point out problems; it also suggests solutions.
Automate scans: Integrate it directly into your development pipeline to automatically catch issues.

Why Integrate Snyk with Docker?

When building Docker containers, we often pull images from public repositories, which may contain security vulnerabilities. For example, you might use a popular image to quickly set up a web server or database without realizing it has known security flaws. Snyk helps detect these hidden risks, making Docker containers safer and giving you confidence in your deployments.

Real-World Use Case Example:

Finance Industry: Banks using Docker containers to deploy applications that handle sensitive financial data can use Snyk to scan images, ensuring no vulnerabilities are shipped to production.
Healthcare Sector: Hospitals deploying patient management software in containers use Snyk to scan for vulnerabilities that could compromise personal health information.
E-commerce Platforms: E-commerce companies running large applications with multiple services in containers rely on Snyk to catch vulnerabilities, protecting sensitive customer data and payment information.

Step-by-Step Guide: Integrating Snyk with Docker

Let’s walk through how to set up Snyk to work with Docker. This guide assumes you have Docker installed on your system.

Step 1: Install Docker and Snyk CLI

Install Docker: If Docker isn’t installed, download it from Docker’s official website and follow the instructions.
Install Snyk CLI:
- The Snyk CLI is the command-line tool that enables you to scan from your terminal. Run this command to install it globally:

npm install -g snyk

> Note: Node.js is required for this, as npm (Node Package Manager) is used for Snyk installation.

Once Snyk is installed, authenticate with your account. This will allow you to access Snyk’s security features.

Open the terminal and enter:

snyk auth

Sign In: This command will open your browser to log into Snyk. If you don’t have an account, you can create one for free.

Step 3: Choose a Docker Image to Scan

Next, select a Docker image you want to check for vulnerabilities. For this example, let’s assume you have an image called myapp:latest.

Step 4: Run a Snyk Scan on Your Docker Image

To scan your Docker image, use the Snyk CLI command:

snyk container test myapp:latest

Step 5: Review the Vulnerability Report

Snyk will produce a report that lists any vulnerabilities found in your image, along with:

Severity levels (e.g., High, Medium, Low),
Details about each vulnerability, and
Suggested fixes for each issue.

Tip: Focus on high-severity issues first, as they pose the most risk.

Step 6: Fix Vulnerabilities

Snyk offers actionable advice on how to fix vulnerabilities. Here are some common steps you can take:

Update Dependencies: Many vulnerabilities can be fixed by updating the libraries or software packages in your Docker image.
Use a Different Base Image: Sometimes, changing the base image to a more secure one can help. For example, switching from ubuntu:latest to a slim version or a security-hardened version.
Rebuild and Scan Again: After making updates, rebuild your Docker image and scan again with Snyk to ensure vulnerabilities have been fixed.

docker build -t myapp:latest .
	snyk container test myapp:latest

Step 7: Automate Scanning with CI/CD Integration

To make Snyk scans a regular part of your workflow, integrate it into your CI/CD pipeline. Here’s an example of adding Snyk to a GitHub Actions pipeline:

Create a GitHub Actions Workflow: In your GitHub repo, create a file like .github/workflows/snyk.yml.
Set Up Snyk in the Workflow:

name: Snyk Security Scan
	
	on:
	  push:
	    branches:
	      - main
	
	jobs:
	  snyk:
	    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
	    steps:
	      - name: Check out code
	        uses: actions/checkout@v2
	      - name: Set up Docker
	        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v1
	      - name: Run Snyk to check Docker image
	        run: snyk container test myapp:latest
	        env:
	          SNYK_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SNYK_TOKEN }}

Note: You’ll need to add your SNYK_TOKEN to GitHub Secrets for authentication.

With this setup, every time you push code, Snyk will automatically check your Docker image for vulnerabilities.

Summary: Benefits of Snyk Integration with Docker

Integrating Snyk with Docker provides a seamless way to enhance security in your DevOps workflow. Here’s a quick recap of the benefits:

Proactive Security: Catch vulnerabilities early, saving time and preventing potential issues in production.
Automation: Automate security checks with Snyk, reducing human error.
Compliance Support: Snyk helps teams in regulated industries, like healthcare or finance, to maintain compliance by identifying security issues quickly.

Enhancing Your Snyk and Docker Setup

For those looking to take it further, here are some additional ideas to boost your Snyk integration:

Set Up Alerts: Use Snyk’s alerting feature to get notified immediately when vulnerabilities are found.
Define Severity Thresholds: In your scans, you can set a severity threshold to only show vulnerabilities above a certain level, like High.
Explore Custom Fixes: Experiment with Snyk’s suggested fixes for more control over how vulnerabilities are handled.