What is an MCP server and why it needs secure secrets management

MCP servers, integral to securely connecting AI applications to external data sources and tools, pose significant security risks due to their credential-heavy nature and the potential for credential leakage and infrastructure compromise. These servers act as intermediaries, requiring authentication to multiple backend systems, which makes them high-value targets for unauthorized access and exploitation. Common security flaws include storing sensitive credentials in plaintext files and inadequate authentication, which can lead to severe vulnerabilities such as data exfiltration and arbitrary code execution. Proper secrets management is essential to mitigate these risks, involving the elimination of hardcoded credentials, the use of centralized secrets management platforms like AWS Secrets Manager or Doppler for secure credential storage and rotation, and implementing OAuth token delegation patterns for dynamic and secure token usage. By ensuring short-lived tokens and aggressive credential rotation, organizations can transform MCP servers from security liabilities into secure integration points, protecting AI workflows and sensitive data from unauthorized access.