Docker Hardened Images for Python: How I Eliminated 152 Vulnerabilities in One Simple Switch

When deploying Python applications in containers, most developers reach for the standard Python image from Docker Hub. While convenient, these community images often harbor dozens of security vulnerabilities that could compromise your production environment.

To understand the scope of this security challenge, let's examine a typical Python deployment and uncover the hidden risks lurking beneath the surface.

Here's a typical way to run a simple Python application using the standard official image:

docker run --rm python:3.13 python -c "print('Hello from standard Python community')"

While this command executes successfully, the real question is: what security risks are we unknowingly introducing? Let's investigate using Docker Scout to scan for vulnerabilities.

Now let's check how many security vulnerabilities exist in this image:

docker scout cves python:3.13 | grep -E "vulnerabilities found|Total:" | head -1

Shocking results

    ✓ SBOM obtained from attestation, 608 packages found
    ✓ Provenance obtained from attestation
    ✗ Detected 40 vulnerable packages with a total of 152 vulnerabilities

The results are alarming: 152 vulnerabilities across 40 packages!

Each vulnerability represents a potential entry point for attackers. For production environments, this level of exposure is simply unacceptable.

Fortunately, there's a solution that eliminates these risks entirely without requiring any code changes to your application.

What Are Docker Hardened Images?

Docker Hardened Images are security-enhanced container images that undergo rigorous vulnerability scanning and patching. DHI solves this critical security gap by providing pre-hardened, vulnerability-free alternatives that work as drop-in replacements for standard images.

Available in multiple variants:

• Debian-based - Full-featured environments
• Alpine-based - Minimal attack surface
• Development variants - Additional tools for dev environments
• Runtime variants - Production-optimized
• FIPS-compliant - Government and enterprise standards

Docker Hardened Images (DHI) for Python are security-hardened container images designed for both development and production use. They come in different variants (Debian-based, Alpine-based, dev, runtime, and FIPS) to suit various needs.

Step-by-Step Guide: Securing Your Python Containers

Here’s how you can harden a Docker image for a Python application using Docker Hardened Images (DHI).

Step 1. Finding the Right DHI Image

Navigate to the Docker Hub.

Step 2. Search for "Python Hardened Images"

Search for Python images

Step 3. Select the appropriate DHI variant

The dhi-python:3.13-dev appears to be the right Docker hardened image to pick up.

Step 4. Mirror it to your Hub Org.

Step 5. Switch to Docker Hardened Images

docker run --rm dockerdevrel/dhi-python:3.13-dev python -c "print('Hello from DHI')"

Step 6. Verify Zero Vulnerabilities

Scan the hardened image for vulnerabilities:

docker scout cves dockerdevrel/dhi-python:3.13-dev | grep -E "vulnerabilities found|Total:" | head -1
    ✓ SBOM obtained from attestation, 205 packages found
    ✓ Provenance obtained from attestation
    ✓ VEX statements obtained from attestation
    ✓ No vulnerable package detected

Remarkable results:

Hello from standard Python community
DHI Image: 0 vulnerabilities
Standard Image: 152 vulnerabilities

Zero vulnerabilities detected! The hardened image is completely clean.

Step 7. Side-by-Side Comparison: Standard vs Hardened

Run this single command to compare both images:

docker run --rm python:3.13 python -c "print('Hello from standard Python community')" && \
echo "DHI Image: $(docker scout cves dockerdevrel/dhi-python:3.13-dev 2>/dev/null | grep -E '[0-9]+ vulnerabilities|No vulnerable package detected' | head -1)" && \
echo "Standard Image: $(docker scout cves python:3.13 2>/dev/null | grep -o '[0-9]\+ vulnerabilities')"

Benefits of Docker Hardened Images

🛡️ Zero Known Vulnerabilities

• Complete elimination of CVEs
• Regular security patches
• Proactive threat mitigation

🚀 Drop-in Replacement

• No code changes required
• Identical Python functionality
• Same development experience

📋 Compliance Ready

• FIPS variants available
• Enterprise security standards
• Audit trail documentation

⚡ Production Optimized

• Smaller attack surface
• Faster deployment
• Reduced security scanning overhead

Ready to secure your Python applications? Start with Docker Hardened Images and eliminate vulnerabilities before they become breaches.

Further References:

• Use DHIs in CI/CD workflows
• Migrate an existing application to use Docker Hardened Images
• Debug a Docker Hardened Image container