Prefer COPY Over ADD

LOW

Use COPY instead of ADD for simple file operations. ADD has implicit behavior that can be surprising.

Rule Information

Language
Docker
Category
Best Practice
Author
Code Pathfinder
Last Updated
2026-01-17
Tags
dockerdockerfilecopyaddfile-operationsbest-practicetransparencypredictabilityanti-pattern
CWE References
CWE-710

Interactive Playground

Experiment with the vulnerable code and security rule below. Edit the code to see how the rule detects different vulnerability patterns.

pathfinder ci --ruleset docker/DOCKER-BP-011 --project .
Vulnerable Code
1
2
Security Rule

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MEDIUM

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MEDIUM

Avoid apt-get upgrade

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Prefer COPY Over ADD

Use COPY instead of ADD for simple file operations. ADD has implicit behavior that can be surprising.
This vulnerability is rated as LOW severity, which means it should be addressed when convenient as it represents a lower security risk but still indicates areas for improvement in code quality and security posture.

Use Code Pathfinder to scan your Docker codebase and automatically detect instances of this vulnerability pattern. Install Code Pathfinder and run the following command in your project directory:

pathfinder ci --ruleset docker/DOCKER-BP-011 --project .

This rule is aligned with industry-standard security frameworks and classifications:

  • CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration): CWE-710
  • Tags: docker, dockerfile, copy, add, file-operations, best-practice, transparency, predictability, anti-pattern
Yes! Code Pathfinder allows you to customize rules to match your specific security requirements and coding standards. You can modify the detection patterns, adjust severity levels, add custom sanitizers, and configure the rule to fit your organization's security policies. The interactive playground above lets you experiment with the rule and see how it behaves with different code patterns.
When this vulnerability is detected in your code, review the flagged instances carefully. Check the "Vulnerable Code" section above for examples of insecure patterns and the "Security Rule" section to understand what the rule is looking for. Follow security best practices for Docker and consult the CWE/CVE references for detailed remediation guidance. Always test your fixes thoroughly before deploying to production.
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