Model Context Protocol (MCP): Understanding security risks and controls

Source:Redhat.com

Article Summary

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard proposed by Anthropic designed to enable AI assistants to securely interact with external tools and resources.

  • MCP enhances AI capabilities by allowing them to access external data, perform actions, and integrate with enterprise systems.
  • It introduces significant security risks, including potential for data exfiltration, unauthorized access, and malicious command execution.
  • Key security controls for MCP implementation include the principle of least privilege, strict input/output validation, sandboxing, and comprehensive auditing.
  • Securing MCP is crucial for enterprise adoption, enabling AI assistants to perform complex, multi-step tasks by leveraging diverse tools responsibly.