Container images should include HEALTHCHECK instructions

docker

Classification:

compliance

Framework:

cis-docker

Control:

4.6

Set up the docker integration.

Description

You should add the HEALTHCHECK instruction to your Docker container images in order to ensure that health checks are executed against running containers.

Rationale

An important security control is that of availability. Adding the HEALTHCHECK instruction to your container image ensures that the Docker engine periodically checks the running container instances against that instruction to ensure that containers are still operational. Based on the results of the health check, the Docker engine could terminate containers which are not responding correctly, and instantiate new ones.

Audit

Run this command to ensure that Docker images have the appropriate HEALTHCHECK instruction configured: docker inspect --format='{{ .Config.Healthcheck }}' <IMAGE>

Remediation

You should follow the Docker documentation and rebuild your container images to include the HEALTHCHECK instruction.

Impact

None

Default value

By default, HEALTHCHECK is not set.

References

  1. https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/#healthcheck

CIS controls

Version 6

18 Application Software Security Application Software Security