diff --git a/.docker/Dockerfile.alpine b/.docker/Dockerfile.alpine
index 41d55d445..3b60c26b6 100644
--- a/.docker/Dockerfile.alpine
+++ b/.docker/Dockerfile.alpine
@@ -41,10 +41,18 @@ RUN apk add --no-cache \
 
 RUN adduser -D secator
 
-# Allow runing 'nmap' with sudo; for priviledged scans
-RUN echo "secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/nmap *" >> /etc/sudoers && \
-    echo "secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/arp-scan *" >> /etc/sudoers && \
-    echo "secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /sbin/arp *" >> /etc/sudoers
+# Raw-socket tools (nmap/arp-scan/arp) need CAP_NET_RAW/CAP_NET_ADMIN.
+# full flavor: no baked-in sudoers grant here -- tools are installed below, then
+# switched to file capabilities (see the setcap block after tool install). A
+# `NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/nmap *` sudoers entry is a GTFObins root shell (a shell
+# injection in a worker can `sudo nmap --script=/tmp/x.nse ...` -> root).
+# lite flavor: tools are installed at runtime, so there are no baked binaries to
+# setcap yet -- keep the old sudo grants here. Prefer the full image in prod.
+RUN if [ "$flavor" = "lite" ]; then \
+	echo "secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/nmap *" >> /etc/sudoers && \
+	echo "secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/arp-scan *" >> /etc/sudoers && \
+	echo "secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /sbin/arp *" >> /etc/sudoers; \
+	fi
 
 # Allow user to install commands
 RUN echo "secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /sbin/apk add *" >> /etc/sudoers && \
@@ -74,6 +82,19 @@ RUN if [ "$flavor" != "lite" ]; then \
 	sed -i '/secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: \/usr\/bin\/flock \/tmp\/install.lock apk add \*/d' /etc/sudoers && \
 	sed -i '/secator ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: \/usr\/bin\/flock \/tmp\/install.lock ln -sf \/usr\/lib\/libpcap.so/d' /etc/sudoers; \
 	fi
+
+# full flavor: grant CAP_NET_RAW/CAP_NET_ADMIN directly on the raw-socket tool
+# binaries instead of sudo (no baked sudoers entry to abuse via GTFObins).
+RUN if [ "$flavor" != "lite" ]; then \
+	apk add --no-cache libcap && \
+	setcap cap_net_raw,cap_net_admin+eip /usr/bin/nmap && \
+	setcap cap_net_raw,cap_net_admin+eip /usr/bin/arp-scan && \
+	setcap cap_net_raw,cap_net_admin+eip /sbin/arp && \
+	setcap cap_net_raw,cap_net_admin+eip /home/secator/.local/bin/naabu; \
+	fi
 USER secator
 
+# full flavor: switch secator to caps mode so requires_sudo commands run unprivileged.
+RUN if [ "$flavor" != "lite" ]; then secator config set security.privileged_mode caps; fi
+
 ENTRYPOINT ["secator"]
diff --git a/secator/config.py b/secator/config.py
index 6cf8962c8..75b777955 100644
--- a/secator/config.py
+++ b/secator/config.py
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ class Security(StrictModel):
 	auto_install_commands: bool = True
 	force_source_install: bool = False
 	prompt_sudo_password: bool = True
+	privileged_mode: str = 'sudo'  # 'sudo' (prepend sudo) or 'caps' (rely on file capabilities)
 
 
 class HTTP(StrictModel):
diff --git a/secator/runners/command.py b/secator/runners/command.py
index 329e1a695..ff1ef23c2 100644
--- a/secator/runners/command.py
+++ b/secator/runners/command.py
@@ -250,8 +250,8 @@ def __init__(self, inputs=[], **run_opts):
 		# Run on_cmd hook
 		self.run_hooks('on_cmd', sub='init')
 
-		# Add sudo to command if it is required
-		if self.requires_sudo:
+		# Add sudo to command if it is required (skip when relying on file capabilities instead)
+		if self.requires_sudo and CONFIG.security.privileged_mode != 'caps':
 			self.cmd = f'sudo {self.cmd}'
 			if self._has_sensitive_cmd_opts:
 				self.cmd_redacted = f'sudo {self.cmd_redacted}'
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_command.py b/tests/unit/test_command.py
index 11e9b81e5..b1641cb0e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_command.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_command.py
@@ -360,3 +360,41 @@ class TaskOverrideB(Command):
 				self.assertEqual(cmd_b.input_chunk_size, 100)
 		finally:
 			CONFIG.tasks.overrides = original_overrides
+
+
+class TestCommandPrivilegedMode(unittest.TestCase):
+	"""Gate test for security.privileged_mode: 'caps' must not prepend sudo, 'sudo' (default) must."""
+
+	def test_sudo_mode_prepends_sudo(self):
+		from secator.config import CONFIG
+
+		class SudoTestCmd(Command):
+			cmd = 'test'
+			requires_sudo = True
+			file_flag = None
+
+		original_mode = CONFIG.security.privileged_mode
+		CONFIG.security.privileged_mode = 'sudo'
+		try:
+			with unittest.mock.patch('secator.runners.task.Task.get_task_class', return_value=SudoTestCmd):
+				cmd = SudoTestCmd(['target1'])
+				self.assertTrue(cmd.cmd.startswith('sudo '))
+		finally:
+			CONFIG.security.privileged_mode = original_mode
+
+	def test_caps_mode_does_not_prepend_sudo(self):
+		from secator.config import CONFIG
+
+		class CapsTestCmd(Command):
+			cmd = 'test'
+			requires_sudo = True
+			file_flag = None
+
+		original_mode = CONFIG.security.privileged_mode
+		CONFIG.security.privileged_mode = 'caps'
+		try:
+			with unittest.mock.patch('secator.runners.task.Task.get_task_class', return_value=CapsTestCmd):
+				cmd = CapsTestCmd(['target1'])
+				self.assertFalse(cmd.cmd.startswith('sudo '))
+		finally:
+			CONFIG.security.privileged_mode = original_mode