When connecting multiple MCP servers, several significant challenges emerge that affect security, performance, and management. These issues are particularly important as the MCP ecosystem continues to evolve and expand.
Tool shadowing represents a critical security risk when connecting multiple MCP servers. A malicious MCP server can override tools from trusted servers, potentially leading to security breaches. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because users may not realize that a malicious server has taken control of a trusted tool's functionality.
Authentication and authorization become more complex in multi-server environments. Without proper security measures:
- A malicious server could shadow or alter commands from trusted servers[2]
- Users might have difficulty distinguishing between legitimate and compromised tool actions
- Stolen authentication tokens could be used to create rogue MCP server instances that appear legitimate[3]