Security - fleXRPL/github-mcp GitHub Wiki

Security

This document outlines security considerations and best practices for the GitHub MCP Server.

Authentication

GitHub Authentication

The server uses githubauthlib for secure authentication with GitHub:

  1. Token Storage

    • Tokens are stored in the system keychain
    • No tokens are stored in environment variables or files
    • Tokens are encrypted at rest
    • Access to tokens requires system authentication

  2. Token Management

    • Tokens are automatically refreshed when needed
    • Expired tokens are handled gracefully
    • Token permissions are scoped to minimum required access
    • Tokens can be revoked from GitHub if compromised

  3. Token Security

    • Never share or expose tokens
    • Use different tokens for different environments
    • Regularly rotate tokens
    • Monitor token usage for suspicious activity

API Security

Rate Limiting

  1. GitHub API Limits

    • Respects GitHub's API rate limits
    • Implements exponential backoff for retries
    • Caches responses when appropriate
    • Provides rate limit information in headers

  2. Server Limits

    • Implements request throttling
    • Limits concurrent connections
    • Enforces maximum request size
    • Monitors for abuse patterns

Input Validation

  1. Parameter Validation

    • All input parameters are validated
    • Uses JSON Schema for validation
    • Sanitizes user input
    • Rejects malformed requests

  2. Path Traversal Prevention

    • Validates repository paths
    • Prevents directory traversal attacks
    • Sanitizes file paths
    • Enforces path restrictions

Response Security

  1. Data Sanitization

    • Sanitizes sensitive data in responses
    • Removes internal metadata
    • Filters sensitive fields
    • Validates response format

  2. Headers

    • Sets appropriate security headers
    • Implements CORS policies
    • Uses secure content types
    • Includes security-related headers

Network Security

Transport Layer

  1. HTTPS

    • Always use HTTPS in production
    • Enforce TLS 1.2 or higher
    • Use strong cipher suites
    • Implement HSTS

  2. Network Isolation

    • Run server in isolated network
    • Use firewall rules
    • Implement network segmentation
    • Monitor network traffic

Server Configuration

  1. Server Hardening

    • Regular security updates
    • Minimal required services
    • Secure default configuration
    • Regular security audits

  2. Monitoring

    • Log security events
    • Monitor for suspicious activity
    • Alert on security incidents
    • Regular security reviews

Best Practices

Development

  1. Code Security

    • Regular security audits
    • Dependency scanning
    • Code signing
    • Secure coding practices

  2. Testing

    • Security testing
    • Penetration testing
    • Vulnerability scanning
    • Regular security assessments

Deployment

  1. Environment Security

    • Secure deployment process
    • Environment isolation
    • Secret management
    • Access control

  2. Monitoring

    • Security monitoring
    • Incident response
    • Regular backups
    • Disaster recovery

Security Checklist

Setup

  • Use HTTPS in production
  • Configure secure headers
  • Set up monitoring
  • Implement logging
  • Configure firewall rules
  • Set up backup system

Maintenance

  • Regular security updates
  • Dependency updates
  • Security audits
  • Token rotation
  • Access review
  • Security testing

Incident Response

  1. Detection

    • Monitor for suspicious activity
    • Log security events
    • Alert on security incidents
    • Regular security reviews

  2. Response

    • Incident response plan
    • Communication plan
    • Recovery procedures
    • Post-incident review

  3. Prevention

    • Regular security training
    • Security best practices
    • Regular audits
    • Continuous monitoring

Security Tools

Recommended Tools

  1. Static Analysis

    • SonarQube
    • Bandit
    • Safety
    • PySA

  2. Dynamic Analysis

    • OWASP ZAP
    • Burp Suite
    • Acunetix
    • Nessus

  3. Monitoring

    • Prometheus
    • Grafana
    • ELK Stack
    • Security Onion

Reporting Security Issues

If you discover a security vulnerability, please follow these steps:

  1. Do Not Disclose

    • Do not disclose the vulnerability publicly
    • Do not create a public issue
    • Do not discuss in public forums

  2. Report Privately

    • Email [email protected]
    • Include detailed description
    • Provide steps to reproduce
    • Suggest fix if possible

  3. Response

    • We will acknowledge receipt
    • We will investigate promptly
    • We will keep you informed
    • We will credit you if desired

Security Resources

Documentation

Tools

Related Documentation