MCP PENETRATION TESTING

Your AI Tools Are Only as Secure as Their MCP Servers

Blacksight tests the Model Context Protocol integrations your AI agents depend on — before attackers exploit them to access your databases, steal credentials, and pivot through your infrastructure.

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What is MCP?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that connects AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot) to external tools and data sources — databases, APIs, file systems, cloud services, internal applications. MCP servers act as bridges between AI models and your real infrastructure.

When an MCP server is misconfigured, lacks input validation, or has overly broad permissions, an attacker can use the AI assistant itself as a weapon — executing commands, reading sensitive files, exfiltrating data, or pivoting through internal systems — all through natural language prompts.

The MCP Attack Surface

MCP servers introduce new attack vectors that traditional security tools miss entirely

Tool Injection

Malicious prompts trick the AI into calling MCP tools with attacker-controlled arguments, turning SELECT queries into DROP TABLE or reads into writes

Credential Exfiltration

MCP servers often hold database connection strings, API keys, and service account tokens. Poor scoping exposes them to any connected client.

Privilege Escalation via Tool Chaining

Combining multiple MCP tools in sequence to escalate from read-only access to admin control — e.g. listing users, then modifying roles

File System Traversal

File-access MCP tools without path restrictions let attackers read /etc/passwd, .env files, SSH keys, or application source code

Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

MCP tools that make HTTP requests can be redirected to hit internal services, cloud metadata endpoints (169.254.169.254), or admin panels

Data Exfiltration Through Context

Sensitive data loaded into the AI context window can be extracted through carefully crafted follow-up prompts, bypassing traditional DLP controls

What We Test

Every MCP pentest covers these critical security boundaries

Tool permission boundaries — are tools scoped to minimum necessary access?
Input validation on tool arguments — can tool parameters be injected or manipulated?
Authentication and authorization — does each MCP client get appropriate access levels?
Credential storage and rotation — are secrets hardcoded, exposed in configs, or properly vaulted?
Tool chaining attack paths — can sequential tool calls escalate privileges?
Transport security — is the MCP connection encrypted? Are tokens rotated?
Resource access controls — can tools access files, databases, or APIs beyond their intended scope?
Prompt injection resistance — can users craft prompts that bypass tool restrictions?
Logging and audit trail — are tool invocations logged with full context for forensics?
Network segmentation — can compromised MCP servers pivot to internal infrastructure?

Our Methodology

A structured approach to finding and fixing MCP vulnerabilities before attackers do

1

Discovery

We map every MCP server in your environment, catalog connected tools, and document permission boundaries

2

Threat Modeling

We identify the highest-risk tool chains and data flows specific to your architecture

3

Active Testing

We attempt tool injection, privilege escalation, credential extraction, and data exfiltration against your live MCP deployment

4

Reporting

You get a detailed report with every finding classified by severity, proof-of-concept payloads, and specific remediation steps

5

Remediation Support

We work with your team to fix findings and re-test until your MCP deployment is hardened

Why Blacksight?

AI Security Specialists

We specialize in AI security — MCP, LLM integrations, and AI data flows are our core focus

Built From Both Sides

We built Blacksight AI, an enterprise DLP product that protects AI tool usage — we understand the attack surface from both sides

Manual, Methodology-Driven

We are not running automated scanners and calling it a pentest. Every test is manual, methodology-driven, and tailored to your environment

Nashville, TN Headquarters

Nashville, TN headquarters with engagements across the US and EMEA

Secure Your MCP Deployment

Don't wait for an attacker to find the gaps in your AI infrastructure. Get a professional assessment of your MCP servers before they become your weakest link.

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Contact Information

Locations

Nashville, TN (US Office)

London, UK (UK Office)

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Book a discovery call with our security team to discuss your MCP environment and concerns.

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