[Initiative]: MCP Server Authentication and Authorization Standards - Whitepaper

[Satarupa22-SD]

Name

MCP Server Authentication and Authorization Standards

Short description

Development of a whitepaper exploring authentication and authorization considerations and reference patterns for Model Control Protocol (MCP) servers in cloud native environments

Responsible group

TOC

Does the initiative belong to a subproject?

Yes

Subproject name

TOC Artificial Intelligence Initiatives

Primary contact

Satarupa Deb (GitHub: @Satarupa22-SD, email: satarupa2212@gmail.com)

Additional contacts

Yujia Lin (GitHub: @blueandhack, email: blueandhack@gmail.com)

Initiative description

Objective:
The objective of this initiative is to explore comprehensive authentication and authorization considerations for Model Control Protocol (MCP) servers, examining security patterns relevant to AI model deployment and management infrastructure. As AI systems become increasingly distributed and integrated into enterprise environments, understanding standardized security mechanisms for MCP servers warrants careful evaluation.
This initiative builds upon the growing adoption of MCP servers in production environments and examines security frameworks that may be compatible with existing cloud native security approaches. The work will focus on documenting practical, implementable security patterns that organizations may consider when deploying MCP infrastructure within cloud native ecosystems.

Key areas of exploration include:
Authentication mechanisms that organizations might evaluate for MCP server access (multi-factor, service-to-service, token-based approaches)
Authorization frameworks including RBAC and ABAC considerations for model operations
Integration patterns that could be evaluated with existing cloud native security infrastructure
Threat modeling approaches specific to MCP server environments
Monitoring and auditing capabilities for compliance scenarios
Considerations for secure deployment and operational management
The initiative will produce a framework documenting security considerations that address the unique challenges of AI model serving infrastructure while examining compatibility with existing security patterns commonly found in cloud native environments

Deliverable(s) or exit criteria

1. Whitepaper (≤ 10 pp): "MCP Security Framework: Authorization Considerations for Cloud-Native AI Systems"

• Documentation of security considerations, reference patterns, and evaluation criteria
• Coverage of authentication mechanisms, authorization frameworks (RBAC/ABAC), threat modeling approaches, and integration patterns organizations might consider for MCP servers in cloud native environments

2. Reference patterns:

• Kubernetes-compatible examples for secure MCP server deployment scenarios
• Integration patterns organizations might evaluate with ingress controllers, service mesh security, SPIFFE/SPIRE identity, Open Policy Agent (OPA) authorization, Sigstore code signing, and OpenTelemetry (OTel) observability components
• Documentation presented as reference implementations rather than prescriptive requirements

3. Community alignment:

• Review with TAG-Security for security considerations validation
• Cross-working group coordination with CNCF AI initiatives and adjacent workstreams to ensure alignment with broader cloud native AI security approaches

The objective is to conclude deliverables by December 2025 (3-month development timeline).

Tracking document for meeting and progress

TBD

[Satarupa22-SD]

CC : @joshhalley @raravena80 Please have a look. Thanks!

[JustinCappos]

I agree the involvement of TAG Security and Compliance would help here. I'd like to be involved.