OSV MCP Server

The OSV MCP Server bridges the gap between AI assistants and the vast catalog of open‑source vulnerability data maintained by OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities). By exposing the OSV database through a lightweight SSE‑based Model Context Protocol interface, it lets language models and other AI tools retrieve up‑to‑date security information without the need for custom integrations or manual API calls.

What Problem Does It Solve?

Modern development workflows increasingly rely on AI assistants to automate code reviews, dependency management, and security scanning. However, most LLMs lack direct access to external vulnerability feeds, forcing developers to manually query services like OSV or embed complex SDKs into their pipelines. The OSV MCP Server removes this friction by presenting a simple, declarative tool set that any MCP‑compatible client can invoke. Developers can now ask an assistant to “check if package version is vulnerable” and receive structured results instantly, all within the same conversational context.

Core Value Proposition

• Seamless AI Integration: The server exposes three focused tools—, , and a detailed lookup by ID—each described with clear JSON schemas. This allows assistants to validate inputs, construct requests automatically, and parse responses without hard‑coding logic.
• Real‑time Streaming: Leveraging Server‑Sent Events (SSE) means that large query results can be streamed incrementally to the client, keeping latency low and allowing assistants to provide partial feedback while the full payload is still being fetched.
• Zero‑Code Client Setup: Because it follows MCP conventions, any client that already supports the protocol (e.g., ToolHive, Claude’s native tool integration) can discover and use the OSV server with minimal configuration—just register the client, run , and start querying.

Key Features & Capabilities

• Package‑level Queries: Search by package name, ecosystem, version string, or commit hash. The tool automatically resolves the correct query parameters and returns all relevant CVEs.
• Batch Processing: Submit an array of queries in a single request, dramatically reducing round‑trip overhead when scanning multiple dependencies.
• Detailed Vulnerability Insight: Retrieve full vulnerability metadata—including affected ranges, severity scores, and advisory links—by providing the OSV ID.
• Environment‑driven Configuration: Port and transport mode are controlled via environment variables, making the server adaptable to CI/CD pipelines or container orchestration environments.

Real‑World Use Cases

• Continuous Security Audits: Integrate the server into a CI pipeline where an AI assistant automatically scans newly added dependencies for known issues and flags them in pull‑request comments.
• Developer Onboarding: New contributors can ask the assistant “Is this dependency safe?” and receive a concise answer, accelerating code reviews.
• Security Incident Response: During an incident, responders can quickly query affected packages across the codebase and generate remediation plans with AI‑generated guidance.

Standout Advantages

• Protocol‑First Design: By adhering strictly to MCP, the server stays future‑proof as new tool formats or transport mechanisms emerge.
• Lightweight & Container‑Friendly: Built in Go and designed for SSE, the binary is small, fast, and can be packaged into containers with minimal overhead.
• Open‑Source Transparency: The server itself is open source, allowing teams to audit the code, extend it with custom logic, or host it privately behind corporate firewalls.

In summary, the OSV MCP Server equips AI assistants with instant, structured access to open‑source vulnerability data, streamlining security workflows and empowering developers to make safer code decisions with minimal friction.