Tutorial / Cram Notes
AWS Inspector is a security vulnerability assessment service that can be used to improve the security and compliance of EC2 instances. It automatically assesses applications for vulnerabilities or deviations from best practices.
To use AWS Inspector to scan your EC2 instances, follow these steps:
- Set Up AWS Inspector:
- Enable AWS Inspector from the AWS Management Console.
- Install the AWS Inspector Agent on the EC2 instances you want to scan.
- Define Assessment Target:
- Create a target by specifying the EC2 instances or tags.
- Create an Assessment Template:
- Configure rules packages to define the type of scan (network, host, runtime behavior).
- Run the Assessment:
- Run the assessment template to start the evaluation process.
- Review Findings:
- Once the assessment is complete, review the findings for any vulnerabilities or suggestions.
Amazon SSM Patch Manager:
For patch management, you can use Amazon SSM Patch Manager, which helps to automate the process of patching managed instances.
- Create a patch baseline with approved patches.
- Scan instances for missing patches.
- Apply patches at a scheduled time that meets your maintenance window.
Scanning Container Images for Vulnerabilities
Amazon ECR Image Scanning:
Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR) has a built-in feature that automatically scans Docker images for vulnerabilities when they are pushed to ECR.
To use ECR image scanning, perform the following:
- Push Your Image to Amazon ECR:
- Ensure that vulnerable image scanning is enabled for your repository.
- Automatic Scanning:
- Once an image is pushed, ECR will automatically start scanning it for common vulnerabilities.
- Review Scan Findings:
- Review the scan findings from the ECR console, and check for any critical issues that need to be addressed.
Amazon ECS and AWS Fargate Using AWS Inspector:
Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) and AWS Fargate can use ECS-optimized Amazon Linux 2 images, which come ready for AWS Inspector.
- Integrate AWS Inspector with your ECS cluster to assess the security state of your container-based applications.
Third-Party Tools:
For more advanced scanning capabilities, you can integrate third-party tools like:
- Aqua Security
- Twistlock
- Sysdig
These tools can be set up to scan your container images during the Continuous Integration (CI) process or runtime.
Comparison and Examples
| Service | EC2 or Container | Automatic Scanning | Manual Scan Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Inspector | EC2 | No | Yes |
| Amazon SSM Patch Manager | EC2 | No | Yes |
| ECR Image Scanning | Container | Yes | Yes |
| AWS Inspector for ECS | Container | No | Yes |
Example Scanning Process (ECR):
- Enable scanning on an ECR repository:
- Get scan findings for an image:
aws ecr create-repository \
–repository-name my-repo \
–image-scanning-configuration scanOnPush=true \
–region us-west-2
aws ecr describe-image-scan-findings \
–repository-name my-repo \
–image-id imageTag=latest \
–region us-west-2
In conclusion, both EC2 instances and container images should be regularly scanned for vulnerabilities to maintain a highly secure AWS environment. AWS offers a variety of tools that can be used to automate and manage the process of scanning and patching instances and container images for known vulnerabilities. It is also beneficial to consider integrating third-party tools for more comprehensive security insights and compliance reporting.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: AWS Inspector can be used to scan EC2 instances for network assessments and host assessments.
- True
True
AWS Inspector is a security assessment service that can be used to perform network assessments and host assessments on EC2 instances.
Amazon ECR uses which of the following to scan images for vulnerabilities?
- A) AWS Shield
- B) AWS WAF
- C) AWS Inspector
- D) Amazon ECR Image Scan
D
Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR) includes the ECR Image Scan feature, which automatically scans your Docker and OCI images for known vulnerabilities.
True or False: Scanning of EC2 instance volumes for vulnerabilities is automatically enabled by default.
- False
False
EC2 instances are not automatically scanned for vulnerabilities by default. You must implement a vulnerability management process, such as using AWS Inspector or third-party tools.
Which AWS service can be used to ensure compliance with security standards on container images?
- A) AWS Config
- B) AWS X-Ray
- C) AWS Security Hub
- D) AWS Trusted Advisor
C
AWS Security Hub allows you to check the compliance of your container images against security standards and best practices.
True or False: You can trigger manual scanning of a container image in Amazon ECR.
- True
True
Manual scanning of container images can be initiated in Amazon ECR by using the StartImageScan API call or by selecting an image in the ECR console and choosing the “Scan” option.
When scanning an EC2 instance for vulnerabilities, AWS Inspector can assess:
- A) Application behavior only
- B) Installed software only
- C) Operating system vulnerabilities
- D) All of the above
D
AWS Inspector can assess the application behavior, installed software, and operating system vulnerabilities as part of its host assessment.
Security groups for EC2 instances can be automatically updated based on findings from vulnerability scans.
- A) True
- B) False
False
Security groups are not automatically updated based on findings from vulnerability scans. They must be manually configured and updated by the user or through automation scripts.
Which of the following AWS services is primarily used to scan and identify security vulnerabilities and unintended network accessibility in EC2 instances?
- A) AWS Inspector
- B) AWS GuardDuty
- C) AWS Config
- D) AWS Lambda
A
AWS Inspector is designed for this purpose, providing automated security assessment to help improve the security and compliance of applications deployed on AWS.
True or False: AWS Inspector can only scan instances within the VPC it was set up in.
- False
False
AWS Inspector can scan instances across multiple VPCs, provided it has the necessary permissions and network access.
For an AWS user to scan a container image using Amazon ECR, which IAM permission is required?
- A) ecr:StartImageScan
- B) ecr:ScanImage
- C) ecr:PutImageScan
- D) ecr:DescribeImageScanFindings
A
The `ecr:StartImageScan` permission allows a user to start a vulnerability scan on a container image in Amazon ECR.
True or False: The AWS CLI can be used to start a vulnerability scan on an Amazon ECR image.
- True
True
The AWS CLI can be used to interact with Amazon ECR, including initiating a vulnerability scan on a container image using the appropriate commands.
Interview Questions
Can you explain how AWS Inspector can be utilized to scan EC2 instances for vulnerabilities?
AWS Inspector is an automated security assessment service that can be used to scan EC2 instances for vulnerabilities. Once enabled, it assesses applications for exposure, vulnerabilities, and deviations from best practices. After performing an assessment, AWS Inspector produces a detailed list of security findings that are prioritized by level of severity.
What AWS service would you use to scan container images for vulnerabilities, and how does it integrate with the container lifecycle?
Amazon ECR (Elastic Container Registry) is integrated with the image scanning capability that uses the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) database to scan container images for known vulnerabilities. This process can be integrated into the CI/CD pipeline so that images are scanned on push to the registry or as a scheduled event.
Can you describe the process of setting up automated vulnerability scans for EC2 instances within AWS?
To set up automated vulnerability scans for EC2 instances, you can create an assessment target using AWS Inspector, which defines the EC2 instances to be included in the assessment. You then define an assessment template that specifies the rules package to be used for evaluating the instances. Scheduled assessments can be configured to run at regular intervals automatically.
What are the potential risks of not regularly scanning EC2 instances and container images for vulnerabilities?
Not regularly scanning for vulnerabilities can lead to undetected exploits, data breaches, service outages, and non-compliance with regulatory requirements. This exposes an organization to potential financial loss, reputational damage, legal action, and weakened security posture.
When scanning container images for vulnerabilities, how does AWS handle the issue of false positives, and what can you do to manage them?
AWS provides findings that include a severity level, which can help to prioritize and focus on the most critical issues. To manage false positives, you can review and verify the findings, mark them as false positives through the AWS Console or CLI, and adjust the rule sets or configurations used in scanning to refine the scan results.
How would you ensure that EC2 instances that are part of an Auto Scaling group are consistently scanned for vulnerabilities?
Instances that are part of an Auto Scaling group can be scanned using AWS Inspector by attaching the same Inspector agent to each instance in the group and ensuring that the assessment targets and templates include the relevant instances either by tags or resource groups.
Is it possible to trigger remediation actions based on vulnerability scan findings in AWS? If so, how?
Yes, it is possible. AWS Inspector findings can be published to Amazon EventBridge (formerly called CloudWatch Events), which can trigger remediation actions such as AWS Lambda functions or SNS notifications to rectify the detected vulnerabilities.
Can you compare the vulnerability scanning features of AWS Inspector versus third-party tools that can be integrated with AWS?
AWS Inspector is a native AWS service that provides basic scanning capabilities and is integrated with other AWS services for a seamless experience. Third-party tools might offer more comprehensive scanning features, wider range of supported programming languages, or additional features for specific compliance needs. The choice depends on the organization’s specific requirements, budget, and existing tooling ecosystem.
How can AWS Security Hub be used in conjunction with vulnerability scans?
AWS Security Hub can aggregate, organize, and prioritize security findings from AWS services such as AWS Inspector. It can be used to provide a comprehensive view of the security state of AWS resources, including the results of vulnerability scans, enabling a centralized point of visibility for security and compliance monitoring.
What is the role of AWS Trusted Advisor in relation to identifying potential vulnerabilities on EC2 instances and container images?
AWS Trusted Advisor provides real-time guidance to help provision resources following AWS best practices. While it does not scan EC2 instances and container images for vulnerabilities, it can highlight security recommendations, such as the need to update SSL/TLS certificates or restrict access to specific resources, which can indirectly reduce the vulnerability profile of an AWS environment.
In the case of EC2 instances, how does AWS handle updates or patches to address known vulnerabilities?
AWS is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and will apply updates to the underlying services automatically. However, for EC2 instances specifically, it is up to the customer to manage the guest OS and applications. AWS provides services like AWS Systems Manager to automate patch management and ensure that instances are updated with the latest patches to address known vulnerabilities.
When performing vulnerability scans, how can you ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the scan results within AWS?
To ensure the confidentiality and integrity of scan results, you should use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to control access to the scan results, enable encryption for storage and transmission of scan data, and utilize integrity checks or logging features provided by services like AWS CloudTrail to track access and changes to the scanned data.
Great article on scanning EC2 instances and container images!
Does anyone have experience using Amazon Inspector for this purpose?
I prefer using third-party tools in conjunction with AWS services for comprehensive scanning.
I found the explanation on ECR content scanning very useful.
What are the key differences between Amazon Inspector and AWS Security Hub?
Does scanning impact the performance of EC2 instances?
Appreciate the detailed info. Thanks!
Anyone faced issues with false positives in container image scanning?