WireMCP
local-only server
The server can only run on the client’s local machine because it depends on local resources.
Integrations
Runs on Node.js environment to power the MCP server, enabling real-time network traffic analysis and processing.
Leverages Wireshark's tshark tool to capture and analyze live network traffic, providing packet-level data, protocol statistics, conversation tracking, and credential extraction capabilities for network diagnostics and security analysis.
WireMCP
WireMCP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server designed to empower Large Language Models (LLMs) with real-time network traffic analysis capabilities. By leveraging tools built on top of Wireshark's tshark
, WireMCP captures and processes live network data, providing LLMs with structured context to assist in tasks like threat hunting, network diagnostics, and anomaly detection.
Features
WireMCP exposes the following tools to MCP clients, enhancing LLM understanding of network activity:
capture_packets
: Captures live traffic and returns raw packet data as JSON, enabling LLMs to analyze packet-level details (e.g., IP addresses, ports, HTTP methods).get_summary_stats
: Provides protocol hierarchy statistics, giving LLMs an overview of traffic composition (e.g., TCP vs. UDP usage).get_conversations
: Delivers TCP/UDP conversation statistics, allowing LLMs to track communication flows between endpoints.check_threats
: Captures IPs and checks them against the URLhaus blacklist, equipping LLMs with threat intelligence context for identifying malicious activity.check_ip_threats
: Performs targeted threat intelligence lookups for specific IP addresses against multiple threat feeds, providing detailed reputation and threat data.analyze_pcap
: Analyzes PCAP files to provide comprehensive packet data in JSON format, enabling detailed post-capture analysis of network traffic.extract_credentials
: Scans PCAP files for potential credentials from various protocols (HTTP Basic Auth, FTP, Telnet), aiding in security audits and forensic analysis.
How It Helps LLMs
WireMCP bridges the gap between raw network data and LLM comprehension by:
- Contextualizing Traffic: Converts live packet captures into structured outputs (JSON, stats) that LLMs can parse and reason about.
- Threat Detection: Integrates IOCs (currently URLhaus) to flag suspicious IPs, enhancing LLM-driven security analysis.
- Diagnostics: Offers detailed traffic insights, enabling LLMs to assist with troubleshooting or identifying anomalies.
- Narrative Generation: LLM's can Transform complex packet captures into coherent stories, making network analysis accessible to non-technical users.
Installation
Prerequisites
- Mac / Windows / Linux
- Wireshark (with
tshark
installed and accessible in PATH) - Node.js (v16+ recommended)
- npm (for dependency installation)
Setup
- Clone the repository:Copy
- Install dependencies:Copy
- Run the MCP server:Copy
Note: Ensure
tshark
is in your PATH. WireMCP will auto-detect it or fall back to common install locations (e.g.,/Applications/Wireshark.app/Contents/MacOS/tshark
on macOS).
Usage with MCP Clients
WireMCP works with any MCP-compliant client. Below are examples for popular clients:
Example 1: Cursor
Edit mcp.json
in Cursor -> Settings -> MCP :
Location (macOS): /Users/YOUR_USER/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Other Clients
This MCP will work well with any client. Use the command node /path/to/WireMCP/index.js
in their MCP server settings.
Example Output
Running check_threats
might yield:
Running analyze_pcap
on a capture file:
LLMs can use these outputs to:
- Provide natural language explanations of network activity
- Identify patterns and potential security concerns
- Offer context-aware recommendations
- Generate human-readable reports
Roadmap
- Expand IOC Providers: Currently uses URLhaus for threat checks. Future updates will integrate additional sources (e.g., IPsum, Emerging Threats) for broader coverage.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.
License
Acknowledgments
- Wireshark/tshark team for their excellent packet analysis tools
- Model Context Protocol community for the framework and specifications
- URLhaus for providing threat intelligence data
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A Model Context Protocol server that provides LLMs with real-time network traffic analysis capabilities, enabling tasks like threat hunting, network diagnostics, and anomaly detection through Wireshark's tshark.