A system and method for detecting vulnerabilities in base images of software containers are disclosed. The method includes receiving an event indicating that at least one base image should be scanned for vulnerabilities, each base image including at least one image layer, wherein the event designates at least one source of the at least one base image, wherein the least one base image includes resources utilized to execute at least a software container; extracting contents of each image layer of each base image; scanning the extracting contents to detect at least one vulnerability; and generating a detection event, when the at least one vulnerability is detected.