Awesome MCP Security

Overview

Awesome MCP Security is a curated knowledge base that tackles the emerging security challenges of the Model Context Protocol (MCP). MCP enables AI assistants to interact with external tools and data sources, but this openness also introduces new attack vectors. The repository aggregates peer‑reviewed papers, real‑world vulnerability reports, and practical tooling that collectively provide a holistic view of MCP’s threat landscape. By compiling academic research, industry analyses, and actionable security utilities, the project equips developers with the information they need to harden their MCP deployments from the ground up.

The core value of this collection lies in its focus on proactive defense. Instead of merely cataloging known exploits, it presents mitigation strategies and best‑practice guidelines derived from recent studies such as Enterprise‑Grade Security for the Model Context Protocol and MCP Safety Audit. Developers can use these insights to design authentication flows that resist token theft, enforce clear permission boundaries between services, and sanitize tool descriptions to thwart prompt injection attacks. The repository also highlights supply‑chain concerns—installers, naming collisions, and unvalidated tool packages—that often go unnoticed until a breach occurs.

Key capabilities highlighted across the resources include:

• Authentication & Authorization Hardening – Techniques to protect OAuth tokens and enforce strict permission scopes.
• Prompt Injection Defense – Detection of hidden instructions in tool metadata and document‑embedded triggers that could coerce an LLM into unintended actions.
• Supply‑Chain Integrity Checks – Validation of installers and naming collision detection to prevent accidental exposure of privileged tools.
• Security Scanning Utilities – Tools such as MCP‑scan and MCP‑Shield that automatically audit MCP servers for common vulnerabilities, providing actionable remediation reports.

Real‑world use cases span from enterprise AI workflows—where sensitive business data is accessed via MCP—to research labs that deploy multiple experimental tools. In both scenarios, the repository’s resources help developers audit their MCP ecosystems before they become attack surfaces. For instance, a fintech firm can integrate MCP‑Guardian to enforce real‑time access controls on financial APIs, while a university lab can use Damn Vulnerable MCP Server to train security analysts on tool poisoning scenarios.

By bridging academic research and practical tooling, Awesome MCP Security offers a one‑stop reference for developers who want to ensure that their AI assistants remain trustworthy, compliant, and resilient against the evolving threats specific to Model Context Protocol environments.