Anchore Engine
A service that analyzes docker images and scans for vulnerabilities
| Category | Vulnerability Management |
|---|---|
| Community Stars | 1586 |
| Last Commit | 1 year ago |
| Last page update | 19 days ago |
| Pricing Details | Free and open source |
| Target Audience | DevOps teams, security professionals, and developers managing containerized applications. |
The Anchore Engine addresses the critical security and compliance challenges in containerized environments by providing a centralized service for the inspection, analysis, and certification of container images. However, it is important to note that as of 2023, Anchore Engine is no longer maintained, and users are advised to transition to alternative tools like Syft and Grype.
Technically, Anchore Engine operates by downloading container images from Docker V2 compatible registries and evaluating them against a vulnerability database. The engine can be deployed as a Docker container and integrated into various container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, and Amazon ECS. It exposes a RESTful API and a CLI interface for managing and inspecting images, policies, and subscriptions.
Key operational considerations include the need for Docker and possibly additional tools like PostgreSQL for database management, especially when using the inline_scan container which pre-loads vulnerability data. The inline_scan script allows for local image analysis and import into an existing Anchore Engine installation, which is useful in CI/CD pipelines but requires Docker and network connectivity to the Anchore Engine API endpoint.
From a technical standpoint, Anchore Engine supports a wide range of operating systems and package managers, including Alpine, Amazon Linux 2, CentOS, Debian, and others. It can analyze packages such as GEM, Java Archives, NPM, and Python PIP. However, the performance and scalability of the engine can be limited, particularly in large-scale deployments where the volume of images and vulnerability data can become substantial.
In terms of specific technical details, the Anchore CLI allows users to add images, wait for analysis, list images, and perform vulnerability scans and policy evaluations. The CLI can be configured using environment variables or command-line arguments to connect to the Anchore Engine API. Despite its capabilities, the lack of ongoing maintenance means that users should plan for migration to supported alternatives to ensure continued security and compliance management.