Container runtime security protects containerized workloads after deployment by monitoring process activity, file access, and network connections. Common threats include container escape, credential theft, cryptomining, and reverse shells. In Kubernetes environments, runtime security spans node agents, the container runtime interface, and control plane configuration, requiring Pod Security Admission, RBAC least privilege, default-deny network policies, and API server audit logging. Detection approaches include streaming eBPF/kernel sensors for live attack detection, snapshot/agentless scanning for posture and CVE context, and behavioral analytics for baselining workload behavior. Responsibility is shared across developers, platform engineering, and security operations. A unified CNAPP approach correlates runtime alerts with vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and identity risks to prioritize real-world threats.
