Securing MCP Servers: Key Lessons from a Vulnerable Project
1 min read
Summary
Unisys’ MCP, a multi-tasking and multi-user operating system, is used in financial markets, government computers, and industrial facilities as an “old-school” but robust system known for its uptime and data integrity.
To educate systems admins and cybersecurity professionals and provide a testing ground for pentesters, the Vulnerable MCP Project was established, mimicking a production MCP server environment with deliberately inserted vulnerabilities.
In addition to teaching admins how to identify risks in MCP environments and providing a sandboxed playground for researchers, the project is designed to highlight the weak spots in MCP systems.
To effectively protect MCP-based systems, it is important to be aware of issues such as insecure authentication mechanisms, obsolete encryption protocols, hardcoded admin credentials, and unpatched systems.
Tools and methods for tightening security on MCP servers include port scanners with MCP awareness, vulnerability scanners, SSH hardening, and network segmentation, among others.
For simulating an MCP environment and learning how to secure it, the vulnerable MCP project is a valuable resource.