[Bug]: Custom-init how-to uses unavailable `ghcr.io/apple/containerization/vminit:latest`

[realrajaryan]

I have done the following

• I have searched the existing issues
• If possible, I've reproduced the issue using the 'main' branch of this project

Steps to reproduce

Use the base image from the custom-init how-to:

FROM ghcr.io/apple/containerization/vminit:latest AS base
FROM ghcr.io/apple/containerization/vminit:latest

Build it:

$ container build -t local/custom-init:latest "/Users/ras/Downloads/test_container/audit_artifacts/container-issue-repros-20260511-101939/tmp/custom-init-context"
#1 [resolver] fetching image...ghcr.io/apple/containerization/vminit:latest
Error: unknown: "HTTP request to https://ghcr.io/v2/apple/containerization/vminit/manifests/latest failed with response: 404 Not Found. Reason: Unknown"

$ echo $?
1

The tag also returns MANIFEST_UNKNOWN when queried with a GHCR bearer token:

$ TOKEN=$(curl -sS 'https://ghcr.io/token?service=ghcr.io&scope=repository:apple/containerization/vminit:pull' | jq -r .token)
$ curl -sS -i -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" https://ghcr.io/v2/apple/containerization/vminit/manifests/latest
HTTP/2 404
content-type: application/json
docker-distribution-api-version: registry/2.0
strict-transport-security: max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains; preload
date: Mon, 11 May 2026 17:24:05 GMT
content-length: 70
x-github-request-id: E348:19C40B:32CA66A:3A1DCBE:6A0210B5

{"errors":[{"code":"MANIFEST_UNKNOWN","message":"manifest unknown"}]}

Problem description

The documented vminit:latest base image tag does not exist, so the custom-init how-to cannot be built as written. The docs should use a valid tag or explain how to choose the correct vminit image.

Environment

- OS: macOS 26.4.1 (25E253)
- Xcode: Xcode 26.4.1 (17E202)
- Container: container CLI 0.12.3 (build: release, commit: f989901)

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[jglogan]

vminit:latest can be available if you're trying to test local changes to vminit