NodeAgent

Real-time Kubernetes runtime security powered by eBPF

NodeAgent is a Kubernetes runtime security agent that uses eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) to detect and prevent threats in real-time. It's a core component of the Kubescape security platform, a CNCF incubating project.

NodeAgent monitors container behavior at the kernel level, learns normal application patterns, and alerts on anomalies and known attack techniques—all with minimal performance overhead.

🛡️ Why Use NodeAgent?

Zero-Config Threat Detection: Automatically detects command injection, privilege escalation, crypto miners, and more
Behavioral Learning: Learns your application's normal behavior and alerts on anomalies
eBPF-Powered: Kernel-level visibility with minimal performance impact (~1-2% CPU overhead)
Image-Based Gadgets: Modern, portable eBPF programs using Inspektor Gadget image format
Cloud-Native: Built for Kubernetes, integrates with existing security workflows
Open Source: Apache 2.0 licensed, CNCF incubating project

✨ Features

Category	Features
Runtime Detection	Unexpected process execution, shell spawning, privilege escalation, container escape attempts
Malware Scanning	ClamAV-powered scanning for trojans, cryptominers, webshells, ransomware
Network Security	DNS monitoring, network connection tracking, data exfiltration detection
Application Profiling	Automatic baseline learning, seccomp profile generation
File Integrity	Real-time file change monitoring (FIM) with fanotify backend
SBOM Generation	Automatic Software Bill of Materials creation
Crypto Mining Detection	RandomX instruction detection for cryptojacking
Attack Detection	Fileless malware, eBPF program loading, kernel module insertion

🚀 Quick Start

Get NodeAgent running in your cluster in under 5 minutes:

# Add the Kubescape Helm repository
helm repo add kubescape https://kubescape.github.io/helm-charts/
helm repo update

# Install with runtime detection enabled
helm upgrade --install kubescape kubescape/kubescape-operator \
  -n kubescape --create-namespace \
  --set clusterName=$(kubectl config current-context) \
  --set capabilities.runtimeDetection=enable \
  --set alertCRD.installDefault=true

# Wait for node-agent pods to be ready
kubectl wait --for=condition=Ready pods -l app=node-agent -n kubescape --timeout=300s

# View alerts (after learning period completes)
kubectl logs -n kubescape -l app=node-agent -f

Test it out:

# After the learning period (~2 minutes by default), run:
kubectl exec -it <any-pod> -- sh -c "cat /etc/passwd"

# You should see an alert in the node-agent logs!

📦 Installation

Kubernetes (Recommended)

Deploy NodeAgent as part of the Kubescape operator:

helm repo add kubescape https://kubescape.github.io/helm-charts/
helm repo update

helm upgrade --install kubescape kubescape/kubescape-operator \
  -n kubescape --create-namespace \
  --set clusterName=$(kubectl config current-context) \
  --set capabilities.runtimeDetection=enable \
  --set capabilities.malwareDetection=enable \
  --set alertCRD.installDefault=true \
  --set alertCRD.scopeClustered=true

With AlertManager integration:

helm upgrade --install kubescape kubescape/kubescape-operator \
  -n kubescape --create-namespace \
  --set clusterName=$(kubectl config current-context) \
  --set capabilities.runtimeDetection=enable \
  --set nodeAgent.config.alertManagerExporterUrls=alertmanager-operated.monitoring.svc.cluster.local:9093

For full configuration options, see the Kubescape documentation.

Standalone (Development/Testing)

Build and run NodeAgent directly on a Linux host:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/kubescape/node-agent.git
cd node-agent

# Build the binary
CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=linux GOARCH=amd64 go build -o node-agent ./cmd/main.go

# Set required environment variables
export NODE_NAME=$(hostname)
export KUBECONFIG=~/.kube/config

# Run with root privileges (required for eBPF)
sudo ./node-agent

Docker

# Build the image
docker buildx build -t node-agent -f build/Dockerfile --load .

# Run (requires privileged mode for eBPF)
docker run --privileged --pid=host --network=host \
  -v /sys:/sys:ro \
  -v /proc:/proc:ro \
  -e NODE_NAME=$(hostname) \
  node-agent

🏗️ Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                              Kubernetes Node                                 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                             │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │                         NodeAgent Pod                                │   │
│  │                                                                      │   │
│  │  ┌──────────────────┐  ┌──────────────────┐  ┌──────────────────┐  │   │
│  │  │  Tracer Manager  │  │  Rule Manager    │  │  Profile Manager │  │   │
│  │  │                  │  │                  │  │                  │  │   │
│  │  │ • Exec Tracer    │  │ • CEL Evaluator  │  │ • App Profiles   │  │   │
│  │  │ • Open Tracer    │  │ • Rule Bindings  │  │ • Network Neigh. │  │   │
│  │  │ • Network Tracer │  │ • Cooldown Mgmt  │  │ • Seccomp Gen.   │  │   │
│  │  │ • DNS Tracer     │  │                  │  │                  │  │   │
│  │  │ • + 15 more...   │  │                  │  │                  │  │   │
│  │  └────────┬─────────┘  └────────┬─────────┘  └────────┬─────────┘  │   │
│  │           │                     │                     │            │   │
│  │           └─────────────────────┼─────────────────────┘            │   │
│  │                                 │                                  │   │
│  │                    ┌────────────▼────────────┐                     │   │
│  │                    │   Ordered Event Queue   │                     │   │
│  │                    │   (Process Tree Aware)  │                     │   │
│  │                    └────────────┬────────────┘                     │   │
│  │                                 │                                  │   │
│  │           ┌─────────────────────┼─────────────────────┐            │   │
│  │           │                     │                     │            │   │
│  │  ┌────────▼─────────┐  ┌────────▼─────────┐  ┌────────▼─────────┐  │   │
│  │  │  HTTP Exporter   │  │ AlertMgr Export  │  │  Stdout Export   │  │   │
│  │  │  (Alert Bulking) │  │                  │  │                  │  │   │
│  │  └──────────────────┘  └──────────────────┘  └──────────────────┘  │   │
│  │                                                                      │   │
│  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│                                    │                                        │
│                                    │ eBPF                                   │
│                                    ▼                                        │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐  │
│  │                           Linux Kernel                                │  │
│  │                                                                       │  │
│  │   ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐       │  │
│  │   │  exec   │ │  open   │ │ network │ │   dns   │ │  kmod   │ ...   │  │
│  │   │ probes  │ │ probes  │ │ probes  │ │ probes  │ │ probes  │       │  │
│  │   └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘       │  │
│  │                                                                       │  │
│  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘  │
│                                                                             │
│  ┌─────────┐  ┌─────────┐  ┌─────────┐  ┌─────────┐                        │
│  │Container│  │Container│  │Container│  │Container│  ...                   │
│  │   A     │  │   B     │  │   C     │  │   D     │                        │
│  └─────────┘  └─────────┘  └─────────┘  └─────────┘                        │
│                                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Components

Component	Description
Tracer Manager	Manages eBPF-based tracers for different syscalls and events
Rule Manager	Evaluates security rules using CEL expressions
Profile Manager	Learns and maintains application behavior profiles
Ordered Event Queue	Ensures events are processed in correct order with process tree awareness
Alert Bulk Manager	Batches alerts for efficient transmission
Malware Manager	Coordinates ClamAV scanning for malware detection
SBOM Manager	Generates Software Bill of Materials using Syft

⚙️ Configuration

NodeAgent is configured through a JSON configuration file and environment variables.

Environment Variables

Variable	Description	Required	Default
`NODE_NAME`	Kubernetes node name	Yes (in K8s)	-
`POD_NAME`	Pod name	Yes (in K8s)	-
`NAMESPACE_NAME`	Namespace	Yes (in K8s)	-
`KUBECONFIG`	Path to kubeconfig	Standalone only	-
`CONFIG_DIR`	Configuration directory	No	`/etc/config`
`SKIP_KERNEL_VERSION_CHECK`	Skip kernel validation	No	-
`ENABLE_PROFILER`	Enable pprof on port 6060	No	-
`OTEL_COLLECTOR_SVC`	OpenTelemetry collector address	No	-
`PYROSCOPE_SERVER_SVC`	Pyroscope server address	No	-

Configuration File

See docs/CONFIGURATION.md for the complete configuration reference.

Example minimal config:

{
  "applicationProfileServiceEnabled": true,
  "runtimeDetectionEnabled": true,
  "malwareDetectionEnabled": true,
  "networkServiceEnabled": true,
  "prometheusExporterEnabled": true
}

Feature Toggles

Feature	Config Key	Default	Description
Application Profiling	`applicationProfileServiceEnabled`	`false`	Learn container behavior
Runtime Detection	`runtimeDetectionEnabled`	`false`	Enable threat detection rules
Malware Detection	`malwareDetectionEnabled`	`false`	ClamAV-based scanning
Network Tracing	`networkServiceEnabled`	`false`	Track network connections
SBOM Generation	`sbomGenerationEnabled`	`false`	Generate SBOMs
File Integrity	`fimEnabled`	`false`	Monitor file changes
Seccomp Profiles	`seccompServiceEnabled`	`false`	Generate seccomp profiles
HTTP Detection	`httpDetectionEnabled`	`false`	Parse HTTP traffic
Network Streaming	`networkStreamingEnabled`	`false`	Stream network events

🔌 Image-Based Gadgets

NodeAgent uses Inspektor Gadget's image-based gadget format for portable, versioned eBPF programs.

Built-in Gadgets

Gadget	Event Type	Description
`exec`	`execve`	Process execution events
`open`	`open`	File open operations
`network`	`network`	Network connections
`dns`	`dns`	DNS queries and responses
`capabilities`	`capabilities`	Capability checks
`seccomp`	`syscall`	System call monitoring
`exit`	`exit`	Process termination
`fork`	`fork`	Process creation
`symlink`	`symlink`	Symbolic link operations
`hardlink`	`hardlink`	Hard link operations
`ptrace`	`ptrace`	Ptrace operations
`kmod`	`kmod`	Kernel module loading
`ssh`	`ssh`	SSH connection events
`http`	`http`	HTTP request/response
`randomx`	`randomx`	RandomX crypto instructions
`iouring`	`iouring`	io_uring operations
`unshare`	`unshare`	Namespace operations
`bpf`	`bpf`	eBPF syscall monitoring

Building Gadgets

# Build all Kubescape gadgets
make gadgets

# Build a specific gadget
make -C ./pkg/ebpf/gadgets/exec build IMAGE=exec TAG=latest

Third-Party Gadgets

NodeAgent supports registering custom third-party tracers. See the ThirdPartyTracers interface in pkg/containerwatcher/container_watcher_interface.go.

🔍 Detection Rules

NodeAgent uses CEL (Common Expression Language) for flexible rule definition. Rules are defined as Kubernetes Custom Resources.

Example Rule Binding

apiVersion: kubescape.io/v1
kind: RuntimeAlertRuleBinding
metadata:
  name: default-rules
spec:
  ruleset:
    - ruleName: "Unexpected Process Launched"
      ruleID: "R0001"
      severity: high
    - ruleName: "Crypto Mining Detected"
      ruleID: "R1001"
      severity: critical
  namespaceSelector:
    matchLabels:
      environment: production

Built-in Rule Categories

Process Rules: Unexpected executables, shell spawning, script execution
File Rules: Sensitive file access, file integrity violations
Network Rules: Unexpected connections, DNS tunneling, data exfiltration
Privilege Rules: Capability usage, privilege escalation attempts
Crypto Rules: Mining activity detection via RandomX
Container Rules: Escape attempts, namespace manipulation

For the full list of rules, see the Kubescape documentation.

🎮 Demos & Examples

We provide comprehensive demos showcasing NodeAgent's capabilities:

Available Demos

Demo	Description	Location
Web App Attack	Command injection detection	`demo/general_attack/`
Fileless Malware	Memory-only malware detection	`demo/fileless_exec/`
Malicious Image	Image with embedded malware	`demo/malwares_image/`
Crypto Miner	XMRig mining detection	`demo/miner/`

Running the Demo

# Follow the complete walkthrough
cat demo/README.md

# Or run individual demos:

# 1. Deploy vulnerable web app
./demo/general_attack/webapp/setup.sh

# 2. Attack it and watch NodeAgent detect:
#    - Command injection
#    - Service account token access
#    - Kubernetes API access

# 3. Deploy fileless malware
kubectl apply -f demo/fileless_exec/kubernetes-manifest.yaml

# 4. Deploy image with malware
kubectl run malware-cryptominer --image=quay.io/petr_ruzicka/malware-cryptominer-container:2.0.2

# 5. Check alerts
kubectl logs -n kubescape -l app=node-agent -f

See the full Demo Guide for detailed instructions with screenshots.

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

NodeAgent pod not starting

# Check pod status
kubectl get pods -n kubescape -l app=node-agent

# Check logs
kubectl logs -n kubescape -l app=node-agent --previous

# Common causes:
# - Kernel version too old (need 5.4+)
# - Missing BTF support
# - Insufficient privileges

No alerts being generated

# 1. Check if learning period is complete (default: 2 minutes)
kubectl logs -n kubescape -l app=node-agent | grep "learning"

# 2. Verify rule bindings are applied
kubectl get runtimealertruleinding -A

# 3. Check if the namespace is excluded
kubectl get configmap -n kubescape kubescape-config -o yaml | grep excludeNamespaces

High CPU usage

# Check current configuration
kubectl get configmap -n kubescape node-agent-config -o yaml

# Tune these settings:
# - workerPoolSize (default: 3000)
# - eventBatchSize (default: 15000)
# - Disable unused features

eBPF verification errors

# Check kernel version
uname -r  # Should be 5.4+

# Check BTF support
ls -la /sys/kernel/btf/vmlinux

# Check if running in a supported environment
# (Some minimal containers lack required mounts)

Exit Codes

Code	Meaning
`0`	Success
`1`	General error
`100`	runc not found
`101`	Incompatible kernel
`102`	macOS (unsupported)

Getting Help

Check the Kubescape documentation
Search GitHub Issues
Join the CNCF Slack (#kubescape channel)
Email: [email protected]

🛠️ Development

Prerequisites

Go 1.25+
Linux with kernel 5.4+ (for eBPF)
Docker (for building images)
kubectl & helm (for testing)
Root/sudo access (for running eBPF programs)

Building

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/kubescape/node-agent.git
cd node-agent

# Build binary
make binary

# Build Docker image
make docker-build

# Build with gadgets
make docker-build  # Includes gadget building

Running Tests

# Unit tests
go test ./...

# With race detection
go test -race ./...

# Integration tests (requires cluster)
go test ./tests/...

Debugging

VS Code launch configuration:

{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Launch NodeAgent",
            "type": "go",
            "request": "launch",
            "mode": "auto",
            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/cmd/main.go",
            "env": {
                "NODE_NAME": "<node-name>",
                "KUBECONFIG": "<path-to-kubeconfig>"
            },
            "console": "integratedTerminal",
            "asRoot": true
        }
    ]
}

Enable profiling:

export ENABLE_PROFILER=true
sudo ./node-agent
# Then access http://localhost:6060/debug/pprof/

Project Structure

node-agent/
├── cmd/                    # Main entry point
├── pkg/
│   ├── config/            # Configuration handling
│   ├── containerwatcher/  # Container event monitoring
│   │   └── v2/tracers/    # eBPF tracer implementations
│   ├── ebpf/gadgets/      # Image-based eBPF gadgets
│   ├── exporters/         # Alert exporters (HTTP, AlertManager, etc.)
│   ├── malwaremanager/    # Malware detection with ClamAV
│   ├── rulemanager/       # CEL-based rule evaluation
│   ├── sbommanager/       # SBOM generation
│   └── ...
├── demo/                   # Demo applications and guides
├── docs/                   # Additional documentation
├── build/                  # Dockerfiles
└── tests/                  # Integration tests

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see our Contributing Guide.

Quick Links

📄 License

NodeAgent is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.

📚 Additional Resources

📝 Changelog

See the Releases page for version history and changelogs.

Made with ❤️ by the Kubescape community

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 1,529 Commits
.github		.github
build		build
clamav		clamav
cmd		cmd
configuration		configuration
demo		demo
docs		docs
mocks		mocks
pkg		pkg
tests		tests
.gitignore		.gitignore
.tool-versions		.tool-versions
ADOPTERS.md		ADOPTERS.md
CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md		CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
COMMUNITY.md		COMMUNITY.md
CONTRIBUTING.md		CONTRIBUTING.md
GOVERNANCE.md		GOVERNANCE.md
LICENSE		LICENSE
MAINTAINERS.md		MAINTAINERS.md
Makefile		Makefile
README.md		README.md
SECURITY-INSIGHTS.yml		SECURITY-INSIGHTS.yml
SECURITY.md		SECURITY.md
go.mod		go.mod
go.sum		go.sum

License

kubescape/node-agent

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NodeAgent

🛡️ Why Use NodeAgent?

✨ Features

📖 Table of Contents

🚀 Quick Start

📦 Installation

Kubernetes (Recommended)

Standalone (Development/Testing)

Docker

🏗️ Architecture

Key Components

⚙️ Configuration

Environment Variables

Configuration File

Feature Toggles

🔌 Image-Based Gadgets

Built-in Gadgets

Building Gadgets

Third-Party Gadgets

🔍 Detection Rules

Example Rule Binding

Built-in Rule Categories

🎮 Demos & Examples

Available Demos

Running the Demo

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

NodeAgent pod not starting

No alerts being generated

High CPU usage

eBPF verification errors

Exit Codes

Getting Help

🛠️ Development

Prerequisites

Building

Running Tests

Debugging

Project Structure

🤝 Contributing

Quick Links

📄 License

📚 Additional Resources

📝 Changelog

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