Checkov

Password Deleted from Git but Still Present: Major CI/CD Security Mistakes

Developers often leave secrets in configuration files, .env examples, or test scripts that end up in Git history. Removing a file in a new commit does not erase previous versions, and .gitignore offers no protection for already tracked content. Pre-commit hooks with tools like Gitleaks can scan staged changes before they reach the repository. Docker images can retain secrets in layers even after removal commands, requiring BuildKit secret mounts instead. Terraform plans and state files may still expose sensitive values marked only as sensitive. Kubernetes workloads need both non-root containers with dropped capabilities and narrowly scoped RBAC roles. Multiple scanning stages from pre-commit through post-deployment help catch issues before they reach production.