# Socket MCP Server
[](https://twitter.com/SocketSecurity)
[](https://bsky.app/profile/socket.dev)
Socket MCP lets AI assistants query Socket's dependency security scores and metadata through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Use it to score a package, audit a `package.json`, or identify risky dependencies in a conversation.
Connect your MCP client to the hosted server at `https://mcp.socket.dev/`, or run the npm package yourself.
### ✨ Features
- 🔍 **Dependency Security Scanning** - Get comprehensive security scores for npm, PyPI, cargo, Maven, NuGet, RubyGems, Go Modules, and more ([supported ecosystems](https://docs.socket.dev/docs/language-support))
- 🌐 **Public Hosted Service** - Use our public server at `https://mcp.socket.dev/`; sign in once via OAuth, no self-hosting
- 🚀 **Multiple Deployment Options** - Run locally via stdio, HTTP, or use our service
- 🤖 **AI Assistant Integration** - Works seamlessly with Claude, VS Code Copilot, Cursor, and other MCP clients
- 📊 **Batch Processing** - Check multiple dependencies in a single request
- 🔒 **OAuth Sign-In** - Public server authenticates through your MCP client's OAuth flow; no API key to copy or manage
🛠️ This project is in early development and rapidly evolving.
## Install
### Option 1: Use the public Socket MCP server (recommended)
The public server uses OAuth. Your MCP client opens a browser to sign in to Socket on first connection. You do not need an API key.
- [Install in VS Code](https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=socket-mcp&config=%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fmcp.socket.dev%2F%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22http%22%7D).
- [Install in Cursor](https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=socket-mcp&config=eyJ0eXBlIjoiaHR0cCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWNwLnNvY2tldC5kZXYvIn0%3D).
Manual install - Claude Desktop / Claude Code
Add the hosted server through Claude's [custom connector settings](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166-get-started-with-custom-connectors-using-remote-mcp). The Developer configuration file is for local servers.
1. Open Customize > Connectors in Claude.
2. Select **Add custom connector** and enter `https://mcp.socket.dev/` as the server URL. On Team and Enterprise plans, an organization owner adds the connector through Organization settings > Connectors first.
3. Select **Connect** and complete the Socket authorization flow when prompted.
4. Enable the connector for your conversation, then ask Claude "Check the security score for express version 4.18.2".
For Claude Code, one command does all of it:
```sh
claude mcp add --transport http socket-mcp https://mcp.socket.dev/
```
Manual install - VS Code
```sh
# For VS Code with GitHub Copilot
code --add-mcp '{"name":"socket-mcp","type":"http","url":"https://mcp.socket.dev/"}'
```
Or add to `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
"servers": {
"socket-mcp": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.socket.dev/"
}
}
}
```
Manual install - Cursor
`Cursor Settings` → `MCP` → `Add new MCP Server`. Name `socket-mcp`, `http` type, URL `https://mcp.socket.dev/`.
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"socket-mcp": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.socket.dev/"
}
}
}
```
Manual install - Windsurf
Windsurf does not support `http` type MCP servers. Use the stdio configuration in Option 2 below, or the `serverUrl` form:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"socket-mcp": {
"serverUrl": "https://mcp.socket.dev/mcp"
}
}
}
```
Manual install - Factory
[Factory](https://factory.ai) is an AI-powered software engineering platform. Install the Socket MCP server with the Factory CLI:
```bash
droid mcp add socket https://mcp.socket.dev/ --type http
```
To self-host with an API key instead, see Option 2 below and register the stdio command with `droid mcp add`.
Alternatively, type `/mcp` within the Factory droid to manage MCP servers from an interactive UI. Learn more in the [Factory MCP documentation](https://docs.factory.ai/cli/configuration/mcp).
### Clients that need a local bridge
Prefer your client's native remote HTTP connection to `https://mcp.socket.dev/` when available. For clients that only launch local stdio servers, install `mcp-remote` 0.8.3:
```bash
pnpm add --global mcp-remote@0.8.3
```
Add this local server configuration to your MCP client:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"socket": {
"command": "mcp-remote",
"args": ["https://mcp.socket.dev/"]
}
}
}
```
The bridge runs on your computer and receives OAuth redirects at `http://localhost:/oauth/callback`. Keep it running while you authorize. Version 0.3.3 introduced the [mid-session authorization fix](https://github.com/punkpeye/mcp-remote/pull/340); the forwarding and reauthorization retry paths were verified against the published 0.8.3 package. This verification does not cover a complete browser sign-in.
Reuse saved authorization while it remains valid. If a browser reports connection refused at the localhost callback, check the bridge's version and process. The callback listener belongs to the bridge; changing the hosted MCP URL does not start it.
### Option 2: Self-host the Socket MCP server
See the [self-hosted server instructions](docs/commands.md#self-hosted-server) for installation, stdio and HTTP setup, environment variables, and OAuth configuration.
## Usage
Once installed, ask your AI assistant questions like:
- "Check the security score for express version 4.18.2"
- "Analyze the security of my package.json dependencies"
- "What are the vulnerability scores for react, lodash, and axios?"
### Documentation
- [Service and tool reference](docs/service.md) lists every tool, input, result, authentication rule, and HTTP behavior.
- [Server commands and workflows](docs/commands.md) covers local launch, self-hosting, environment variables, and the optional Claude Code hook.
### Tools exposed
The complete tool roster, schemas, parameters, and result examples are in the [service reference](docs/service.md#tools-exposed).
#### depscore
See [depscore](docs/service.md#depscore).
#### organizations
See [organizations](docs/service.md#organizations).
#### alerts
See [alerts](docs/service.md#alerts).
#### threat_feed
See [threat_feed](docs/service.md#threat_feed).
#### package_files
See [package_files](docs/service.md#package_files).
#### package_file_contents
See [package_file_contents](docs/service.md#package_file_contents).
#### package_file_grep
See [package_file_grep](docs/service.md#package_file_grep).
### Authentication for organization-scoped tools
See the [authentication reference](docs/service.md#authentication-for-organization-scoped-tools) for local tokens, per-request HTTP credentials, and hosted OAuth.
### Worked example: organization details and alerts
See the [organization and alerts example](docs/service.md#worked-example-organization-details-and-alerts).
### Adjusting tool usage via client rules
See [client rule examples](docs/service.md#adjusting-tool-usage-via-client-rules).
### Claude Code Hook (Optional)
The optional Socket package guard is documented in the [commands and workflows reference](docs/commands.md#claude-code-hook-optional).
### Setup
See the [hook setup instructions](docs/commands.md#setup).
### How it works
See [how the hook works](docs/commands.md#how-it-works).
### Limitations
See the [hook limitations](docs/commands.md#limitations).
Inspired by [Jimmy Vo's dependency hook](https://blog.jimmyvo.com/posts/claudes-dependency-hook/).
## Development
Contributor commands
This repo uses pnpm, and every command runs from the repo root. Node.js 24+ is required.
```sh
git clone https://github.com/SocketDev/socket-mcp.git
cd socket-mcp
pnpm install
```
Run from source. No build step is needed, because Node 24 strips the TypeScript itself:
```sh
export SOCKET_API_TOKEN=your_api_token_here
pnpm run server-stdio
```
Or in HTTP mode:
```sh
pnpm run server-http
```
Both scripts read `SOCKET_API_TOKEN` (falling back to `SOCKET_API_KEY`) from your environment. Append `:debug` to either one (`pnpm run server-http:debug`) to set `SOCKET_DEBUG=1` and get per-request tracing on stderr.
### Audit events
Audit-event destinations and record behavior are documented in the [service reference](docs/service.md#audit-events).
### Health check endpoint
The HTTP health response is documented in the [service reference](docs/service.md#health-check-endpoint).
### Troubleshooting
See [service troubleshooting](docs/service.md#troubleshooting).
### Getting help
- 📖 [Socket Documentation](https://docs.socket.dev)
- 🐛 [Report Issues](https://github.com/SocketDev/socket-mcp/issues)
- 💬 [Community Support](https://github.com/SocketDev/socket-mcp/discussions)
## License
MIT