Versatile AI Risk Assessment

Glossary Systems and architecture

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

Open standard through which applications connect tools and data sources.

As of: September 2026 · Glossary with 46 terms

What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?

The Model Context Protocol is an open standard for applications to connect tools and data sources consistently. An MCP server exposes capabilities; the client in the surrounding application mediates calls. A language model can propose a tool call but does not itself execute the protocol.

Review server provenance and integrity, authentication, permissions per tool and controls before execution. Tool descriptions and returned content can also be manipulated. Critical actions need appropriate approvals and traceable logs.

Sources for context: MCP · Architecture

Tool accessSupply chainAgentic

Threats using this term (2)

Entries in the threat catalogue whose text uses the term. Every link leads to the full threat page.

MCP Hijacking (Model Context Protocol) The Model Context Protocol (MCP) connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources in a standardised way. Insecure Inter-Agent Communication (A2A/MCP) In multi-agent systems, agents exchange messages and discover tools through shared registries, for example via the A2A or MCP protocol.

More terms from the subject area Systems and architecture.

GPAI and systemic risk Foundation models for many tasks, with their own duties and a separate tier for systemic risk. Agentic system (agentic AI) A system that uses a language model to carry out multi-step tasks on its own. Multi-agent system Several agents share a task and call each other.

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“MCP (Model Context Protocol)”. Versatile AI Risk Assessment, glossary of AI risk analysis, as of September 2026.
https://www.versatile-ai-risk-assessment.com/en/wissensbasis/glossary/mcp/

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