Drone CI/CD MCP Server

Drone MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for interacting with Drone CI/CD. This server provides tools and resources to query build information, repositories, and more from your Drone instance.

Features

• 45 tools covering repositories, builds, cron jobs, secrets, users and templates
• Read-only by default: the 27 write and destructive tools are only registered with --enable-write-tools
• Streamable HTTP transport with mandatory bearer authentication, DNS rebinding protection and cross-origin protection
• Validated inputs: repository identifiers, names, branches and build numbers are checked before they reach the Drone API
• Resource access: build details via drone://builds/{owner}/{repo}/{build}

Installation

go mod tidy
go build -o drone-mcp-server .

Configuration

Environment variables

export DRONE_SERVER=https://drone.example.com
export DRONE_TOKEN=your_drone_token
export MCP_AUTH_TOKEN="$(openssl rand -base64 32)"   # HTTP mode only

Grant the smallest Drone permission set that covers the tools you expose. The read-only tool set only needs read access to repositories and builds, while write tools such as delete_user, create_org_secret or chown_repo require administrator permissions.

Security

This server is a privileged proxy: whatever it can reach, anyone who can talk to it can reach too. The defaults reflect that.

• HTTP mode fails closed. Without MCP_AUTH_TOKEN (or MCP_AUTH_TOKEN_FILE) the server refuses to start in HTTP mode. --insecure-allow-anonymous overrides this and logs a warning.
• Read-only by default. Only the 18 read-only tools are registered unless write access is requested explicitly. Every tool is annotated with the MCP hints readOnlyHint, destructiveHint and idempotentHint so clients can gate writes themselves.
• Streamable HTTP transport. The legacy SSE transport was removed from the MCP specification and shipped without DNS rebinding or cross-origin protection. This server uses the Go SDK's StreamableHTTPHandler, which rejects requests that arrive on a loopback address with a non-loopback Host header and rejects cross-site browser requests.
• Optional allowlists. --allowed-hosts and --allowed-origins add explicit Host and Origin allowlists on top of the transport defaults.
• Bearer token handling. Tokens are compared in constant time over SHA-256 digests, and repeated failures from one address are throttled (10 per minute, then 429).
• Input validation. Repository identifiers, secret and template names, branches and build numbers are validated before reaching the Drone API client, because drone-go assembles request paths by string formatting.
• Log hygiene. X-Forwarded-For / X-Real-IP are ignored unless --trust-proxy is set, and control characters are stripped from logged values so request data cannot forge log lines.
• Bounded requests. Request bodies are capped (1 MiB by default), idle sessions expire, and header read timeouts plus silent-connection timeouts limit slow-client abuse.

Deployment checklist

1. Terminate TLS in front of the server (the binary speaks plain HTTP) and never send the bearer token over an untrusted network.
2. Keep the loopback default binding and put a reverse proxy in front, or bind to an interface only your MCP clients can reach.
3. Generate a high-entropy MCP_AUTH_TOKEN (32+ random bytes) and inject it as a platform secret rather than on the command line.
4. Leave write tools disabled unless the workflow needs them.
5. Set --trust-proxy only when a proxy you control rewrites X-Forwarded-For / X-Real-IP; otherwise the logged client address is attacker controlled.
6. Read SECURITY.md before exposing the server beyond localhost.

Usage

As an MCP server

Add the server to your MCP client configuration (e.g., Claude Desktop):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "drone": {
      "command": "/path/to/drone-mcp-server",
      "env": {
        "DRONE_SERVER": "https://drone.example.com",
        "DRONE_TOKEN": "your_token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Direct execution

You can run the server directly for testing:

# Stdio mode (default) - for local MCP clients
./drone-mcp-server

# Streamable HTTP mode - requires MCP_AUTH_TOKEN
export MCP_AUTH_TOKEN="$(openssl rand -base64 32)"
./drone-mcp-server --http --host localhost --port 8080

Transport Modes

1. Stdio mode (default): Communicates via stdin/stdout using the MCP protocol. Suitable for local integration with MCP clients; no network exposure and no authentication required.

2. Streamable HTTP mode (--http): A single endpoint that accepts POST (client to server), GET (server to client stream) and DELETE (session teardown).

   Upgrading from earlier releases: the old --sse flag and the SSE transport are gone. Use --http and a client that speaks Streamable HTTP.

    # Local only, read-only tools
    MCP_AUTH_TOKEN=... ./drone-mcp-server --http
   
    # Behind a TLS terminating proxy, write tools enabled
    MCP_AUTH_TOKEN=... ./drone-mcp-server --http --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8080 \
        --enable-write-tools --allowed-hosts mcp.example.com

   Clients connect to http://localhost:8080/ by default and must send the header:

    Authorization: Bearer <MCP_AUTH_TOKEN>

   Behind a reverse proxy: the transport rejects a public Host header on a loopback connection with 403 as part of its DNS rebinding protection. Either keep the loopback Host header (proxy_set_header Host 127.0.0.1:8080;), or hand Host validation to the allowlist with a single flag:

    ./drone-mcp-server --http --allowed-hosts mcp.example.com

   Setting --allowed-hosts replaces the loopback heuristic, so you do not need --localhost-protection=false. If you pass --localhost-protection=true explicitly, both checks are applied and the public Host is rejected again.

Command line flags

Available Tools

The server implements 45 tools. In the default read-only mode only the 18 read-only tools are registered; the remaining 27 are write or destructive tools and require --enable-write-tools (or MCP_ENABLE_WRITE_TOOLS=true).

Write and destructive tools: enable_repo, disable_repo, repair_repo, chown_repo, sync_repos, create_cron, delete_cron, execute_cron, create_secret, update_secret, delete_secret, create_org_secret, update_org_secret, delete_org_secret, create_user, update_user, delete_user, create_template, update_template, delete_template, restart_build, cancel_build, promote_build, rollback_build, approve_build, decline_build, create_build.

The destructive ones (deletions, disables, cancellations, promotions, rollbacks, ownership changes) are advertised with destructiveHint: true; the rest of the write tools with destructiveHint: false. All 18 read-only tools are advertised with readOnlyHint: true.

Repository Management

list_repos

Lists all repositories in your Drone instance.

get_repo

Get repository details.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name

enable_repo

Enable a repository.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name

disable_repo

Disable a repository.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name

repair_repo

Repair a repository.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name

chown_repo

Change repository ownership.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name

sync_repos

Synchronize repository list.

list_incomplete

List repositories with incomplete builds.

Build Management

list_builds

Lists builds for a specific repository.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name

get_build

Get detailed information about a specific build.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• build (number): Build number

get_build_last

Get the last build for a repository (optionally by branch).

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• branch (string, optional): Branch name

get_build_logs

Get logs for a specific build stage and step.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• build (number): Build number
• stage (number): Stage number
• step (number): Step number

restart_build

Restart a build (optionally with parameters).

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• build (number): Build number
• params (object, optional): Build parameters

cancel_build

Cancel a running build.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• build (number): Build number

promote_build

Promote a build to a target environment.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• build (number): Build number
• target (string): Target environment
• params (object, optional): Promotion parameters

rollback_build

Rollback a deployment to a previous build.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• build (number): Build number
• target (string): Target environment
• params (object, optional): Rollback parameters

approve_build

Approve a build stage (for gated deployments).

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• build (number): Build number
• stage (number): Stage number

decline_build

Decline a build stage (for gated deployments).

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• build (number): Build number
• stage (number): Stage number

create_build

Create a new build from a commit or branch.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• commit (string, optional): Commit SHA
• branch (string, optional): Branch name
• params (object, optional): Build parameters

Cron Job Management

list_crons

List cron jobs for a repository.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name

get_cron

Get cron job details.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• cron (string): Cron job name

create_cron

Create a new cron job.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• name (string): Cron job name
• expr (string): Cron expression
• branch (string): Branch name
• disable (boolean, optional): Disable the cron job

delete_cron

Delete a cron job.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• cron (string): Cron job name

execute_cron

Execute a cron job immediately.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• cron (string): Cron job name

Secret Management

list_secrets

List repository secrets.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name

get_secret

Get repository secret details.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• name (string): Secret name

create_secret

Create a repository secret.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• name (string): Secret name
• value (string): Secret value
• pull_request (boolean, optional): Allow in pull requests
• pull_request_push (boolean, optional): Allow in pull request push events

update_secret

Update a repository secret.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• name (string): Secret name
• value (string): Secret value
• pull_request (boolean, optional): Allow in pull requests
• pull_request_push (boolean, optional): Allow in pull request push events

delete_secret

Delete a repository secret.

Arguments:

• owner (string): Repository owner
• repo (string): Repository name
• name (string): Secret name

Organization Secrets

list_org_secrets

List organization secrets.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Organization namespace

get_org_secret

Get organization secret details.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Organization namespace
• name (string): Secret name

create_org_secret

Create an organization secret.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Organization namespace
• name (string): Secret name
• value (string): Secret value
• pull_request (boolean, optional): Allow in pull requests
• pull_request_push (boolean, optional): Allow in pull request push events

update_org_secret

Update an organization secret.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Organization namespace
• name (string): Secret name
• value (string): Secret value
• pull_request (boolean, optional): Allow in pull requests
• pull_request_push (boolean, optional): Allow in pull request push events

delete_org_secret

Delete an organization secret.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Organization namespace
• name (string): Secret name

User Management

get_self

Get current authenticated user.

list_users

List all users.

get_user

Get user details.

Arguments:

• login (string): User login name

create_user

Create a new user.

Arguments:

• login (string): User login name
• email (string, optional): User email
• admin (boolean, optional): Admin privileges
• active (boolean, optional): Active status
• token (string, optional): User token

update_user

Update a user.

Arguments:

• login (string): User login name
• admin (boolean, optional): Admin privileges
• active (boolean, optional): Active status

delete_user

Delete a user.

Arguments:

• login (string): User login name

Template Management

list_templates

List templates (optionally by namespace).

Arguments:

• namespace (string, optional): Template namespace

get_template

Get template details and data.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Template namespace
• name (string): Template name

create_template

Create a new template.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Template namespace
• name (string): Template name
• data (string): Template data (YAML)

update_template

Update a template.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Template namespace
• name (string): Template name
• data (string): Template data (YAML)

delete_template

Delete a template.

Arguments:

• namespace (string): Template namespace
• name (string): Template name

Resources

Build details resource

Access build details via resource URI: drone://builds/{owner}/{repo}/{build}

Example:

Read resource: drone://builds/owner1/repo1/123

Docker

A multi-architecture Docker image is available on GitHub Container Registry:

# Pull the latest image
docker pull ghcr.io/yusiwen/drone-mcp-server:latest

# Run in stdio mode (for local MCP clients)
docker run --rm -i \
           -e DRONE_SERVER=https://drone.example.com \
           -e DRONE_TOKEN=your_token \
           ghcr.io/yusiwen/drone-mcp-server

# Run in Streamable HTTP mode: read-only, authenticated, published on loopback
docker run --rm \
           -e DRONE_SERVER=https://drone.example.com \
           -e DRONE_TOKEN=your_token \
           -e MCP_AUTH_TOKEN=your_mcp_token \
           -p 127.0.0.1:8080:8080 \
           ghcr.io/yusiwen/drone-mcp-server --http --host 0.0.0.0

# Add --enable-write-tools when the workflow must mutate Drone
docker run --rm \
           -e DRONE_SERVER=https://drone.example.com \
           -e DRONE_TOKEN=your_token \
           -e MCP_AUTH_TOKEN=your_mcp_token \
           -p 127.0.0.1:8080:8080 \
           ghcr.io/yusiwen/drone-mcp-server --http --host 0.0.0.0 --enable-write-tools

--host 0.0.0.0 is required inside a container so that published ports work, which is exactly why the bearer token is mandatory. Publish the port on 127.0.0.1 unless a TLS terminating proxy sits in front.

Prefer a mounted secret over an environment variable:

docker run --rm \
           -v /run/secrets/mcp_token:/run/secrets/mcp_token:ro \
           -e MCP_AUTH_TOKEN_FILE=/run/secrets/mcp_token \
           -e DRONE_SERVER=https://drone.example.com \
           -e DRONE_TOKEN=your_token \
           -p 127.0.0.1:8080:8080 \
           ghcr.io/yusiwen/drone-mcp-server --http --host 0.0.0.0

Docker Compose Example

services:
  drone-mcp-server:
    image: ghcr.io/yusiwen/drone-mcp-server:latest
    environment:
      DRONE_SERVER: https://drone.example.com
      DRONE_TOKEN: ${DRONE_TOKEN:?DRONE_TOKEN is required}
      MCP_AUTH_TOKEN: ${MCP_AUTH_TOKEN:?MCP_AUTH_TOKEN is required}
      # MCP_ENABLE_WRITE_TOOLS: "true"   # only when the workflow needs writes
    ports:
      - "127.0.0.1:8080:8080"
    command: ["--http", "--host", "0.0.0.0"]
    restart: unless-stopped
    read_only: true
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:true

Releases

Pre-built binaries are available for Linux (x64, arm64), macOS (x64, arm64), and Windows (x64) in the GitHub Releases.

Version Information

The binary includes version information:

./drone-mcp-server --version

Output example:

drone-mcp-server
Version: v1.0.0
Commit: abc123
Build date: 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z
Go version: go1.25.1

Project Structure

.
├── main.go              # Entry point: CLI flags, transports, auth, HTTP hardening, tool registration
├── main_test.go         # Auth middleware, allowlists, log hygiene and tool registration tests
├── tool/                # Tool handlers module
│   ├── build.go         # Build-related tools (list_builds, get_build, restart_build, etc.)
│   ├── repo.go          # Repository-related tools (list_repos, enable_repo, disable_repo, etc.)
│   ├── resource.go      # Resource handling (drone://builds/...)
│   ├── cron.go          # Cron job management tools
│   ├── secret.go        # Secret management tools
│   ├── user.go          # User management tools
│   ├── template.go      # Template management tools
│   ├── validate.go      # Input validation helpers used by every tool
│   ├── validate_args.go # Validate implementation for each tool argument struct
│   └── validate_test.go # Validation tests, including injection attempts
├── SECURITY.md          # Threat model, deployment guidance and reporting process
├── server.json          # MCP registry metadata
├── test_env.sh          # Manual smoke test script (uses environment variables)
├── test_mcp.go          # In-memory MCP integration test (build tag: test)
└── README.md

Development

Dependencies

• Go 1.25.14+ (the toolchain is pinned by go.mod; earlier Go 1.25 patch releases carry standard library vulnerabilities that fail the govulncheck gate)
• github.com/modelcontextprotocol/go-sdk - MCP SDK (Streamable HTTP transport)
• github.com/drone/drone-go - Drone API client

Building

make build           # build with version info injected through ldflags
go build -o drone-mcp-server .

Testing

make test                                  # unit tests
make test-race                             # with the race detector
make smoke                                 # end-to-end security smoke test
make vuln                                  # govulncheck (module + standard library)
go vet ./...

The unit tests cover the authentication middleware (including constant time comparison and failure throttling), the Host policy, log sanitization, client address handling, input validation and the read-only tool registration. They need no Drone instance.

Verifying the security hardening

scripts/security-smoke-test.sh starts the real binary on a loopback port and asserts the behaviour that matters, without contacting any Drone instance:

./scripts/security-smoke-test.sh          # builds the binary first
BIN=./drone-mcp-server ./scripts/security-smoke-test.sh

It checks that HTTP mode refuses to start without a token, that missing/wrong credentials, wrong Content-Type, oversized bodies, forged Host headers and cross-site Origin are rejected with 401/401/415/413/403/403, that the default tool list is exactly 18 read-only tools and that hidden write tools are not callable, that path traversal in tool arguments is refused, that log injection and X-Forwarded-For spoofing are neutralised, that --allowed-hosts replaces the loopback heuristic, that write tools appear only with --enable-write-tools, that --sse is gone, and that SIGTERM shuts the server down. It exits non-zero on the first failure set and runs in CI, so it doubles as a regression gate.

Manual verification against a real Drone

Use a read-only token first and confirm the tools answer:

export DRONE_SERVER=https://ci.example.com
export DRONE_TOKEN=<read-only token>
export MCP_AUTH_TOKEN="$(openssl rand -base64 32)"
./drone-mcp-server --http --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8080

Then point an MCP client at it. Stdio mode:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "drone": {
      "command": "/path/to/drone-mcp-server",
      "env": { "DRONE_SERVER": "https://ci.example.com", "DRONE_TOKEN": "..." }
    }
  }
}

Streamable HTTP mode (most clients accept a headers block; npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector works too, pick "Streamable HTTP" and add the same header):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "drone": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8080/",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer <MCP_AUTH_TOKEN>" }
    }
  }
}

Suggested checks against a real instance: get_self (confirms the token works), list_repos, get_build_last, get_build_logs (exercises untrusted content in the model context), then get_repo with owner: "../users" to confirm validation refuses it. Run write tools against a disposable repository only.

Running locally

export DRONE_SERVER=https://drone.example.com
export DRONE_TOKEN=...

# Read-only stdio server
./drone-mcp-server

# HTTP mode with authentication and write tools
MCP_AUTH_TOKEN=dev-token ./drone-mcp-server --http --enable-write-tools

License

MIT