bpftrace MCP Server

# Security Considerations for MCPtrace > ⚠️ **WARNING**: This MCP server executes system-level tracing commands with elevated privileges. Proper security configuration is CRITICAL. ## Overview MCPtrace provides AI assistants with access to powerful Linux kernel tracing capabilities through bpftrace. This requires careful security considerations to prevent unauthorized system access or malicious code execution. ## Critical Security Issues ### 1. Privileged Execution **Risk**: bpftrace requires root privileges to access kernel tracing facilities. **Current Implementation**: - The server prompts for sudo password at startup - Password is cached in memory for the session duration only - Password is never written to disk or logs **Configuration Options**: 1. **Default: Password Prompt** (Current implementation): - Server prompts for password when started - Password cached securely in memory - Suitable for interactive use 2. **Alternative: Passwordless sudo** (Recommended for production): ```bash # Add to /etc/sudoers using visudo your_username ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/bpftrace ``` 3. **Container Deployment**: - Use Docker with appropriate capabilities - Isolate the server from the host system - Pass credentials via environment variables **Security Considerations**: - Password is transmitted to sudo via stdin using -S flag - Memory containing password is not swapped to disk - Password cleared when server stops ### 2. Code Injection Risks **Risk**: Arbitrary bpftrace code execution could compromise system security. **Current State**: No input validation or sanitization. **Mitigations**: - Only use MCPtrace with trusted AI clients - Review all generated bpftrace programs before execution - Consider implementing an allowlist of safe trace patterns - Monitor server logs for suspicious activity ### 3. Resource Exhaustion **Risk**: Malicious or poorly written traces could consume excessive system resources. **Current Limits**: - 60-second execution timeout - 10,000 line output buffer - No CPU or memory limits **Recommendations**: - Implement CPU and memory quotas - Add rate limiting per client - Monitor system resource usage - Set up alerts for abnormal behavior ## Security Best Practices ### 1. Principle of Least Privilege - Run the MCP server as a dedicated user - Grant only necessary permissions - Use AppArmor or SELinux profiles if available - Restrict file system access ### 2. Network Security - Never expose the server directly to the internet - Use secure transport (TLS) for remote connections - Implement proper authentication mechanisms - Consider using a reverse proxy with authentication ### 3. Audit and Monitoring - Enable comprehensive logging - Monitor all executed bpftrace programs - Set up alerts for suspicious patterns - Regularly review access logs ### 4. Input Validation Until proper validation is implemented: - Manually review generated traces - Use only with trusted AI models - Implement external validation scripts - Consider a human-in-the-loop approval process ## Secure Configuration Example ```bash # 1. Create dedicated user sudo useradd -r -s /bin/false mcptrace # 2. Configure passwordless sudo for bpftrace only echo "mcptrace ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/bpftrace" | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/mcptrace # 3. Set restrictive permissions sudo chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/mcptrace # 4. Run server as dedicated user sudo -u mcptrace python /path/to/server.py ``` ## Threat Model ### Potential Threats 1. **Malicious Trace Execution**: Attacker executes harmful bpftrace programs 2. **Information Disclosure**: Sensitive kernel data exposed through traces 3. **Denial of Service**: Resource exhaustion through intensive traces 4. **Privilege Escalation**: Exploiting bpftrace vulnerabilities 5. **Data Exfiltration**: Using traces to extract sensitive information ### Mitigations 1. **Access Control**: Strict authentication and authorization 2. **Input Validation**: Sanitize and validate all trace programs 3. **Resource Limits**: Enforce CPU, memory, and time constraints 4. **Audit Logging**: Log all operations with full context 5. **Network Isolation**: Restrict network access from trace context ## Incident Response If you suspect a security incident: 1. **Immediate Actions**: - Stop the MCP server - Review recent trace executions - Check system logs for anomalies - Isolate affected systems 2. **Investigation**: - Analyze executed bpftrace programs - Review system call logs - Check for unauthorized file access - Monitor network traffic 3. **Recovery**: - Revoke compromised credentials - Update security configurations - Patch identified vulnerabilities - Implement additional controls ## Security Checklist Before deploying MCPtrace: - [ ] Configured passwordless sudo for bpftrace - [ ] Created dedicated user account - [ ] Restricted sudo access to bpftrace binary only - [ ] Implemented logging and monitoring - [ ] Reviewed and understood threat model - [ ] Tested incident response procedures - [ ] Documented security configuration - [ ] Trained users on security best practices ## Reporting Security Issues If you discover a security vulnerability: 1. **Do NOT** create a public GitHub issue 2. Contact the maintainers privately 3. Provide detailed reproduction steps 4. Allow time for a fix before disclosure ## Future Security Enhancements Planned improvements: - Bpftrace program validation and sanitization - Sandboxed execution environment - Formal security audit - Integration with security frameworks - Automated threat detection --- Remember: Security is a shared responsibility. Always follow the principle of least privilege and defense in depth when deploying MCPtrace.