Anchore
Container security and compliance platform for scanning container images and software supply chains
Kubescape
Unified Kubernetes security from development to runtime
Kubescape secures Kubernetes clusters, YAML, and Helm charts against NSA‑CISA, MITRE ATT&CK, and CIS benchmarks, with CLI, operator, and CI/CD integrations.
Overview
Overview
Kubescape is a comprehensive security platform for Kubernetes environments, targeting administrators, DevOps engineers, and security teams. It provides hardening, posture management, and runtime protection across the entire lifecycle, from code and configuration to live workloads.
Capabilities & Deployment
The tool scans clusters, YAML manifests, and Helm charts using multiple compliance frameworks. It leverages Open Policy Agent for policy enforcement, Grype for image vulnerability detection, and Inspektor Gadget for eBPF‑based runtime analysis. Users can run quick scans via the CLI, deploy continuous monitoring with the in‑cluster operator (installed through a Helm chart), or embed security checks into CI/CD pipelines using the official GitHub Action. Results are exportable in JSON, JUnit XML, SARIF, HTML, or PDF, and can be sent to a cloud service for centralized reporting.
Highlights
Multi‑framework misconfiguration scanning (NSA‑CISA, MITRE ATT&CK, CIS)
In‑cluster operator with continuous scanning, image vulnerability, runtime analysis, and network policy generation
CLI and GitHub Action for fast, on‑demand assessments
Export reports to JSON, JUnit XML, SARIF, HTML, PDF, or cloud
Pros
- Broad coverage across development, CI/CD, and runtime
- Leverages proven tools like OPA, Grype, and Inspektor Gadget
- Extensible via Helm chart and GitHub Action
- Active CNCF incubating project with vibrant community
Considerations
- Requires cluster access for in‑cluster operator
- Learning curve for customizing policies
- Report formats may need post‑processing for some pipelines
- Limited native remediation automation
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Fit guide
Great for
- Kubernetes administrators seeking continuous security posture monitoring
- DevOps teams integrating security into CI/CD pipelines
- Security engineers needing compliance checks against multiple frameworks
- Organizations adopting CNCF‑aligned tools
Not ideal when
- Small, single‑node clusters without compliance requirements
- Teams preferring fully managed SaaS security solutions
- Environments lacking Helm or OPA familiarity
- Projects that need out‑of‑the‑box remediation without custom scripting
How teams use it
Pre‑deployment compliance scan
Detects misconfigurations in Helm charts and YAML before they reach production, ensuring alignment with NSA‑CISA and CIS benchmarks.
Continuous in‑cluster monitoring
Operator continuously scans running workloads, flags drift, and generates network policies to enforce least‑privilege connectivity.
CI/CD pipeline security gate
GitHub Action aborts merges when new images contain known vulnerabilities or policy violations, automating risk mitigation.
Incident response runtime analysis
eBPF‑based inspection reveals suspicious process activity, aiding rapid investigation of potential attacks.
Tech snapshot
Go99%
Python1%
Shell1%
PowerShell1%
Dockerfile1%
Makefile1%
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid subscription to use Kubescape?
No, Kubescape is fully free under the Apache‑2.0 license; optional cloud services are separate.
Which Kubernetes versions are supported?
Kubescape supports all actively maintained Kubernetes versions; the CLI works with any cluster reachable via kubectl.
Can I extend the policy library?
Yes, you can add custom Rego policies to the OPA engine or contribute to the upstream control set.
How does Kubescape scan container images?
It uses the Grype vulnerability scanner to analyze image layers for CVEs and known exploits.
Is there a way to suppress false positives?
Kubescape supports risk exceptions, allowing you to whitelist specific findings per cluster or workload.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 11,147
- Watchers
- 11,147
- Forks
- 893
LicenseApache-2.0
Repo age4 years old
Last commityesterday
Primary languageGo
Last synced 3 hours ago