hexstrike-ai

HexStrike AI MCP Connector Security Hardening

Least-privilege permissions

• Restrict credentials by scope: Give the agent only API keys and login tokens for the specific systems it's authorized to test; revoke or rotate credentials monthly and immediately after each engagement ends.
• Separate test and production credentials: Use isolated test accounts and environments that cannot reach live customer data or critical infrastructure, even if an agent malfunctions.
• Audit who can configure the agent: Limit access to change the agent's settings or target list to a small named team; require written approval before deploying against new systems.

Network isolation

• Run the agent on a dedicated, air-gapped network: Place the MCP server and connected LLM (Claude, GPT, etc.) on a separate network segment with no direct access to production systems or the internet beyond approved pentesting targets.
• Whitelist targets at the firewall: Explicitly allow outbound connections only to authorized IP ranges and domains; block all other traffic at the network edge so the agent cannot scan unexpected systems even if manipulated.
• Disable agent internet access: Prevent the agent from exfiltrating data to external cloud providers, generative AI services, or logging platforms unless explicitly required and monitored.

Monitoring

• Log all agent actions in real-time: Capture every scan, tool invocation, and finding in a tamper-proof central log (SIEM); alert immediately if the agent attempts to access out-of-scope targets or makes unusual API calls.
• Review scan results before sharing: Have a human security analyst verify that findings are accurate and from authorized targets before they're sent to clients or entered into ticketing systems.
• Track credential usage: Alert if any API key or login token used by the agent is accessed outside its scheduled testing window or from an unexpected location.

Red flags to watch for

• Requests to scan new targets without approval: If the agent asks to test systems not on the pre-approved list, or if prompts mention targets you didn't authorize, stop and escalate to leadership immediately.
• Unusual tool combinations or destructive payloads: Watch for patterns where the agent chains together tools in ways that could damage systems (e.g., data deletion, network disruption) rather than simply scanning for vulnerabilities.
• Large amounts of data leaving the isolated network: Monitor for unexpected uploads, emails, or transfers of scan results, credentials, or system details to cloud storage, messaging apps, or third parties.
• Agent behavior inconsistent with its instructions: If the agent suddenly scans competitors, financial systems, or customer infrastructure when it was only supposed to test your own environment, assume prompt injection or misconfiguration and isolate it immediately.