CI/CD Security

Modern CI/CD pipelines require robust security controls integrated throughout the development lifecycle. This guide covers the latest security practices and patterns for CI/CD pipelines.

Secure Pipeline Design

Multi-Stage Security Validation

# Example Pipeline Structure
stages:
  - validate
  - scan
  - build
  - test
  - security
  - compliance
  - deploy
  - monitor

Zero-Trust Pipeline Architecture

Isolated build environments
Ephemeral credentials
Just-in-time access
Minimal privilege principle
Network segmentation

Security Controls

1. Pipeline Security Gates

Code quality thresholds
Security scan results
Dependency checks
License compliance
Infrastructure validation

2. Automated Security Checks

GitHub Actions Example

name: Security Pipeline
on: [push, pull_request]

jobs:
  security:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      # SAST
      - uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v2
        
      # Dependencies
      - uses: snyk/actions/node@master
        
      # Container Security  
      - uses: aquasecurity/trivy-action@master
        
      # IaC Security
      - uses: bridgecrewio/checkov-action@master
        
      # License Compliance
      - uses: fossas/fossa-action@main

Azure DevOps Pipeline Example

trigger:
  - main
  - release/*

variables:
  azureSubscription: 'Production'
  
stages:
- stage: SecurityValidation
  jobs:
  - job: SecurityScans
    pool:
      vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'
    steps:
    - task: Semmle@1
      inputs:
        sourceCodeDirectory: '$(Build.SourcesDirectory)'
        language: 'cpp,java,python,javascript'
        
    - task: WhiteSource@21
      inputs:
        cwd: '$(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)'
        
    - task: CheckmarxScan@9
      inputs:
        projectName: '$(Build.Repository.Name)'
        enablePolicyMode: true

- stage: ComplianceCheck
  jobs:
  - job: Compliance
    steps:
    - task: SonarQubePrepare@5
    - task: SonarQubeAnalyze@5
    - task: SonarQubePublish@5

Supply Chain Security

1. Dependency Management

SBOM generation
Vulnerability scanning
License compliance checks
Version pinning
Dependency updates

2. Container Security

# Container Build Security
steps:
- task: ContainerScan@0
  inputs:
    imageName: '$(imageRepository):$(tag)'
    scanType: 'vulnerability'
    severityThreshold: 'CRITICAL'
    
- task: ContainerStructureTest@0
  inputs:
    imageName: '$(imageRepository):$(tag)'
    testFile: 'test/container-structure-test.yaml'

3. Artifact Signing

# Artifact Signing Configuration
signing:
  provider: cosign
  identities:
    - name: pipeline-signing-key
      type: kms
      keyRef: projects/my-project/locations/global/keyRings/release-keys
  verification:
    - policy: match-signature
      keyRef: projects/my-project/locations/global/keyRings/release-keys

Runtime Security

1. Dynamic Security Testing

# DAST Integration
security_testing:
  dast:
    zap:
      target: https://staging.app.com
      rules: security-rules.conf
      thresholds:
        high: 0
        medium: 5
    nuclei:
      templates: security-templates/
      severity: critical,high

2. Infrastructure Security

# Infrastructure Validation
infrastructure:
  validation:
    - provider: terraform
      policy_set: security-baseline
    - provider: kubernetes
      policy_set: pod-security
    - provider: cloud
      policy_set: compliance-controls

Monitoring and Response

1. Security Observability

# Security Monitoring Configuration
monitoring:
  providers:
    - name: azure-sentinel
      workspace: security-analytics
    - name: elastic-security
      endpoint: https://es.internal
  alerts:
    - name: high-risk-deployment
      criteria: deployment_risk_score > 80
      channels: ['security-team', 'devops-oncall']

2. Incident Response

# Incident Response Automation
response:
  triggers:
    - event: security_violation
      severity: high
      actions:
        - type: slack_notification
          channel: security-incidents
        - type: jira_ticket
          project: SEC
          priority: P1
        - type: deployment_rollback
          target: last_known_good

Compliance Automation

1. Compliance Checks

# Compliance Validation
compliance:
  frameworks:
    - standard: PCI-DSS
      controls: [requirement-6, requirement-8]
    - standard: SOC2
      controls: [CC6.1, CC7.1, CC8.1]
  reporting:
    format: [json, pdf]
    schedule: weekly

2. Audit Logging

# Audit Configuration
audit:
  retention: 365d
  destinations:
    - type: cloud_storage
      bucket: audit-logs
    - type: security_analytics
      workspace: compliance-monitoring
  events:
    - category: pipeline_execution
    - category: security_scan
    - category: deployment
    - category: configuration_change

GitOps Security Integration

1. Secure GitOps Workflows

# Flux Security Configuration
apiVersion: source.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1beta2
kind: GitRepository
metadata:
  name: secure-apps
spec:
  interval: 1m
  url: https://github.com/org/apps
  secretRef:
    name: flux-system
  verify:
    provider: cosign
    secretRef:
      name: cosign-public-key

2. Policy Enforcement

# OPA/Gatekeeper Policy
apiVersion: constraints.gatekeeper.sh/v1beta1
kind: K8sRequiredLabels
metadata:
  name: deployment-must-have-security-context
spec:
  match:
    kinds:
      - apiGroups: ["apps"]
        kinds: ["Deployment"]
  parameters:
    labels: ["security-context-validated"]

Best Practices Summary

Pipeline Security
- Implement defense in depth
- Use security gates
- Enable audit logging
- Enforce least privilege
Supply Chain
- Generate and verify SBOMs
- Sign artifacts and images
- Use trusted base images
- Implement dependency scanning
Runtime Security
- Deploy WAF protection
- Enable runtime scanning
- Implement chaos engineering
- Monitor security metrics
Compliance
- Automate compliance checks
- Maintain audit trails
- Generate compliance reports
- Implement policy controls

Remember to regularly review and update security controls as new threats emerge and compliance requirements evolve.

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Last updated 1 month ago