Definition
A software component that connects an AI agent to specific tools, data, or services using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), the emerging open standard for how AI programs touch the outside world. It is the hinge where an agent's instructions become real actions, like querying a database or running a command. Because it sits between the AI and your systems, a flawed or misconfigured MCP server is one of the most valuable targets in agentic AI.
Why it matters
Enterprises are wiring MCP servers into production as the standard socket for AI agents to reach internal systems, yet multiple severe MCP server vulnerabilities were mass-exploited in the wild this window. One weak server can let an attacker turn a trusted agent into a remote-control tool.