Chapter 2 · Practice 5 of 5
Never mount the Docker socket into a container
Why it matters
Mounting /var/run/docker.sock gives the container the Docker API, and the OWASP cheat sheet's first rule explains that this is effectively root on the host.
If a tool really needs to manage containers, such as a CI runner:
- run it on a dedicated host, or
- use a rootless setup.
Do not reach for --privileged to fix a permissions error either; it removes most of the isolation too.
To check nothing mounts the socket by accident, search your Compose files and run scripts for docker.sock.
Avoid
-v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sockon app containers--privilegedto fix a permissions error