MCP Server for AI-Assistant-Driven Pentesting
What is the Model Context Protocol?
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that allows AI assistants to interact with external tools and services. Instead of copying and pasting between your security dashboard and your code editor, MCP lets your AI assistant talk directly to TurboPentest - launching pentests, querying results, and even acting on findings without leaving your development environment.
TurboPentest's MCP Server exposes the pentest lifecycle as MCP tools that any compatible AI assistant can call. This includes Claude Code, VS Code with Copilot, Cursor, Windsurf, and any other editor that supports the MCP standard. A hosted remote version of the server is also listed on Smithery.
Installing the MCP Server
The TurboPentest MCP Server is distributed as the npm package @turbopentest/mcp-server. For Claude Code, add it to a .mcp.json file in your project root:
{
"mcpServers": {
"turbopentest": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@turbopentest/mcp-server"],
"env": {
"TURBOPENTEST_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
}
}
}
}Claude Desktop uses the same shape in claude_desktop_config.json, and Cursor accepts it under Settings > MCP Servers. The server authenticates using your TurboPentest API key passed as the TURBOPENTEST_API_KEY environment variable. Create the key at Settings > API Keys in the dashboard.
Available MCP Tools
The MCP Server exposes the following tools to your AI assistant:
Pentest Lifecycle
- turbopentest_start_pentest - Start a new pentest with a
target_url(must be a verified domain), an optionalrepo_urlfor white-box analysis, and atier(recon,standard,deep, orblitz; defaultstandard). Returns a pentest ID for tracking. - turbopentest_get_pentest - Get full details for a pentest: status, progress, findings summary, executive summary, attack surface map, and STRIDE threat model.
- turbopentest_list_pentests - List your pentests with status and finding counts.
- turbopentest_list_domains - List your verified domains, so the assistant can check verification before launching.
- turbopentest_get_credits - Check your credit balance and available tiers with pricing.
Results and Findings
- turbopentest_get_findings - Retrieve structured findings for a pentest, with severity, CVSS, CWE, description, proof-of-concept, and remediation steps. Returns up to 20 findings at a time; use the
severityfilter (critical,high,medium,low,info) to narrow results. - turbopentest_download_report - Download the full report as markdown (best for AI consumption), JSON, or PDF.
- turbopentest_verify_attestation - Verify a blockchain-anchored pentest attestation by hash (public, no API key required).
Built-In Prompts
The server also ships guided prompts for multi-step workflows:
- run_pentest - Full lifecycle: domain check, credit verification, launch, monitoring, and summary
- analyze_findings - Deep-dive analysis of a pentest's findings with a prioritized remediation plan
- compare_pentests - Diff two pentests by fetching both with
turbopentest_get_pentestandturbopentest_get_findings, then matching findings by fingerprint (falling back to title) to categorize them as new, fixed, or persistent - security_posture - Executive summary of overall security posture across recent pentests
Workflow: Pentest from Your Editor
Here is a typical interaction with an MCP-aware AI assistant:
You: "Run a standard pentest against our staging environment at staging.example.com"
Assistant: Calls turbopentest_start_pentest with target https://staging.example.com and tier standard. Returns the pentest ID.
You: "What is the status?"
Assistant: Calls turbopentest_get_pentest with the ID. Reports: "Still scanning. 4 findings so far (1 high, 2 medium, 1 low)."
You: "Show me the high severity finding."
Assistant: Calls turbopentest_get_findings filtered to high severity. Returns: "SQL Injection in /api/users endpoint via the 'sort' parameter. The agent demonstrated data extraction using a UNION-based payload."
You: "Fix this vulnerability in our codebase."
Assistant: Reads the finding's remediation guidance and the relevant source file, then applies a parameterized query fix - all without leaving the editor.
This workflow compresses what would normally be a multi-day cycle (run pentest, read report, switch to IDE, find code, apply fix) into a single conversation.
Tool Reference Details
turbopentest_start_pentest
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| target_url | string | yes | The URL to pentest (the domain must be verified in your account) |
| repo_url | string | no | GitHub repository URL for white-box analysis (SAST, secret detection, dependency audit) |
| tier | string | no | recon, standard, deep, or blitz (default: standard) |
turbopentest_get_findings
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| pentest_id | string | yes | The pentest to query (UUID) |
| severity | string | no | Filter by severity (critical, high, medium, low, info) |
Security Considerations
The MCP Server runs locally on your machine and communicates with TurboPentest's API over HTTPS. Your API key never leaves your local environment. The server does not store any pentest data locally - all data remains in TurboPentest's infrastructure.
For team environments, each developer should use their own named API key rather than sharing one. Keys have full account access, so treat them like passwords and revoke any key that may have been exposed.
Advantages Over the Web Dashboard
While the TurboPentest web dashboard provides a full-featured interface for managing pentests, the MCP Server offers unique advantages for developers:
- No context switching - Stay in your editor throughout the entire pentest-review-fix cycle
- AI-assisted remediation - Your AI assistant can read findings and apply fixes in the same conversation
- Programmatic filtering - Query findings by severity without navigating a UI
- Natural language interaction - Ask questions about findings in plain English rather than navigating menus
- Guided workflows - Built-in prompts walk the assistant through launches, analysis, and run-to-run comparisons using conversational commands
GitHub Action for CI/CD Pentesting
Learn how to integrate TurboPentest into your CI/CD pipeline with a GitHub Action that triggers pentests automatically on every deployment.
Slack & Jira Workflows
Configure real-time Slack notifications and automatic Jira ticket creation for TurboPentest findings to keep your team informed and your remediation on track.