checkov
Checkov is a static analysis tool that scans infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, etc.) and container images to detect security misconfigurations and vulnerabilities before deployment. It includes over 1000 built-in policies for AWS, Azure, and GCP compliance and can integrate into CI/CD pipelines.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | bridgecrewio/checkov |
| Owner | bridgecrewio |
| Primary language | Python |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 8.9k |
| Forks | 1.4k |
| Open issues | 134 |
| Latest release | 3.3.7 (2026-07-07) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/bridgecrewio/checkov |
What checkov is
Python-based scanner using graph-based analysis to evaluate IaC templates, Dockerfiles, and SCA for CVEs in open-source packages. Supports policy-as-code in YAML and Python, variable resolution, secret detection via regex/entropy, and multiple output formats (JSON, SARIF, JUnit XML, CycloneDX). Runs locally or in CI/CD workflows.
Get the checkov source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/bridgecrewio/checkov.gitcd checkov# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires Python 3.9–3.12 and Terraform ≥0.12; validate environment compatibility before rollout.
- Policy baselines and custom rules should be version-controlled; plan for policy drift and review cycles.
- Integrate into CI/CD early (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins examples exist); consider scan performance on large codebases.
- Establish suppression governance to avoid rule fatigue and false-positive accumulation over time.
- SCA scanning requires network access for CVE database lookups; air-gapped deployments need offline database strategy.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Runtime security needed — Checkov is static analysis only; it does not monitor or enforce policy on running infrastructure. Use runtime security tools for that.
- Manual policy customization at scale — While policies are customizable, maintaining hundreds of custom policies across large organizations requires discipline and governance outside this tool.
- Minimal Python/CLI tooling tolerance — Primary interface is CLI and programmatic; limited GUI. Teams requiring graphical dashboards may prefer commercial platforms like Prisma Cloud.
- Guaranteed zero false positives — Like all static analysis, Checkov produces false positives. Suppression mechanisms exist but require active management.
License & commercial use
Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). Permissive OSI-approved license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution and liability disclaimer.
Apache-2.0 permits commercial use without restrictions. No vendor lock-in or usage limits. Checkov is open-source; Prisma Cloud is the commercial SaaS platform by Palo Alto Networks that uses Checkov as a component. Organizations may use Checkov standalone without purchasing Prisma Cloud.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Strong |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Strong |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Checkov is a scanning tool, not a runtime enforcer. Review considerations: (1) Policies are static rules—no guarantee of real-world exploit prevention; (2) Scans only accessible code; does not audit deployed infrastructure state; (3) SCA relies on CVE database freshness; (4) Tool itself should be kept updated to avoid tool vulnerabilities; (5) Suppression mechanism can be misused to hide risk—requires policy governance; (6) No built-in secrets vault integration; findings must be manually remediated or fed to ticketing systems. Assumes IaC is the source of truth.
Alternatives to consider
Terraform Cloud/Enterprise policy-as-code
Native to Terraform; simpler for Terraform-only shops but less coverage for other IaC formats and no SCA capability.
AWS CloudFormation Guard
AWS-native policy engine for CloudFormation; lighter weight for AWS-only deployments but limited multi-cloud and non-IaC scanning.
Prisma Cloud (commercial)
Palo Alto's SaaS platform built on Checkov; adds UI, managed policy updates, runtime monitoring, and compliance reporting—but requires licensing.
Build on checkov with DEV.co software developers
Review the policy index, try a local scan on sample infrastructure code, and assess integration effort with your CI/CD workflow. No subscription required to start.
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checkov FAQ
Do I have to use Prisma Cloud to use Checkov?
Can Checkov scan Terraform state files or only code?
How often are policies updated?
What does 'graph-based scanning' mean?
Custom software development services
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Evaluate Checkov for your IaC security pipeline
Review the policy index, try a local scan on sample infrastructure code, and assess integration effort with your CI/CD workflow. No subscription required to start.