MCP Kali Server
Connects AI assistants to 55+ Kali Linux security tools for automated CTF solving, penetration testing, and security analysis across 7 categories including cryptography, forensics, web security, and binary exploitation.
What is MCP Kali Server?
MCP Kali Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to connects ai assistants to 55+ kali linux security tools for automated ctf solving, penetration testing, and security analysis across 7 categories including cryptography, forensics, web security, and b...
Connects AI assistants to 55+ Kali Linux security tools for automated CTF solving, penetration testing, and security analysis across 7 categories including cryptography, forensics, web security, and binary exploitation.
This server falls under the Security category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Connects AI assistants to 55+ Kali Linux security tools for
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx mcp-kali-serverConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use MCP Kali Server
MCP Kali Server bridges AI assistants like Claude to a running Kali Linux environment, exposing 55+ specialized security tools across seven CTF categories: Pwnable, Cryptography, Forensics, Web Security, Cloud, Web3, and Reversing. It runs as a Python Flask server with 73+ API endpoints, enabling Claude to orchestrate complex multi-step attack chains — from RSA decryption and memory forensics to web vulnerability scanning and binary exploitation — without the user manually copying tool outputs between steps. It is designed for CTF competitors, penetration testers, and security researchers who want AI-assisted automation of their Kali toolchain.
Prerequisites
- A Kali Linux environment (native, WSL2, or VM) with the target tools installed (nmap, sqlmap, pwntools, Volatility3, etc.)
- Python 3.9 or later with pip or uv
- Docker and Docker Compose v2.26+ (recommended for containerised setup)
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop
- Git to clone the repository
Clone the repository
Clone the CTF-Solver repository from GitHub to your Kali Linux machine.
git clone https://github.com/foxibu/CTF-Solver.git
cd CTF-SolverInstall Python dependencies
Install the project dependencies using pip (or uv for faster installs). This installs the Flask server and all Python bindings for the supported tools.
pip install -e .
# OR with uv:
uv pip install -e .Start the Kali server
Launch the Kali server process. By default it listens on port 5000. Use --port to change the port if needed.
python3 kali_server.py
# Custom port:
python3 kali_server.py --port 8080Configure environment variables
Set the server connection variables so the MCP client can reach the Kali server. KALI_SERVER_URL should point to the machine running kali_server.py.
export KALI_SERVER_URL="http://localhost:5000"
export KALI_REQUEST_TIMEOUT="300"
export DEBUG_MODE="false"Add the MCP server to your client config
Register the MCP Kali Server in your claude_desktop_config.json so Claude can reach the Kali toolchain.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-kali-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["mcp-kali-server"],
"env": {
"KALI_SERVER_URL": "http://localhost:5000",
"KALI_REQUEST_TIMEOUT": "300"
}
}
}
}Verify the connection
Ask Claude to list available tools or run a simple nmap scan to confirm the Kali server is reachable and the MCP integration is working.
MCP Kali Server Examples
Client configuration
claude_desktop_config.json entry for MCP Kali Server pointing to a locally running kali_server.py instance.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-kali-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["mcp-kali-server"],
"env": {
"KALI_SERVER_URL": "http://localhost:5000",
"KALI_REQUEST_TIMEOUT": "300",
"DEBUG_MODE": "false"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts that leverage the 55+ Kali tools exposed via this MCP server.
- "Run an nmap scan on 192.168.1.0/24 and identify open HTTP ports."
- "I have an RSA CTF challenge with n and e. Use RsaCtfTool to attempt to factor n and recover the plaintext."
- "Run gobuster and nikto against http://target.ctf and summarise the findings."
- "Analyze this memory dump with Volatility3 and list running processes and network connections."
- "Use checksec on this binary, then generate a ROP chain with ROPgadget to exploit the buffer overflow."Troubleshooting MCP Kali Server
Connection refused to KALI_SERVER_URL
Make sure kali_server.py is running and listening on the expected port. If running in Docker, verify the port mapping and that the container is healthy with 'docker-compose ps'.
A tool returns 'command not found' errors
The specific Kali tool (e.g. sqlmap, Ghidra) must be installed in the Kali environment. Install missing tools with 'sudo apt install <toolname>' or follow the tool's individual install guide.
Request timeout on long-running scans
Increase KALI_REQUEST_TIMEOUT (default 300 seconds). For tools like hashcat or metasploit that may run for minutes, set it to 600 or higher.
Frequently Asked Questions about MCP Kali Server
What is MCP Kali Server?
MCP Kali Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that connects ai assistants to 55+ kali linux security tools for automated ctf solving, penetration testing, and security analysis across 7 categories including cryptography, forensics, web security, and binary exploitation. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install MCP Kali Server?
Follow the installation instructions on the MCP Kali Server GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with MCP Kali Server?
MCP Kali Server works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is MCP Kali Server free to use?
Yes, MCP Kali Server is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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