Grades are a hygiene check, not a security guarantee.

MCP, MCP server

Magpie Search

Magpie Search, an MCP server listed in the PlugVet directory.

Compatibility: Not stated.

Grade D

Two or more Medium findings, or a High. Only try it in a sandbox.

Graded by PlugVetRubric v2

Not a guarantee. A hygiene check of the source at the commit shown, not a security audit.

Pattern found, check before installing

The checks matched a pattern that needs a closer look. It does not mean the code is harmful. Read the quoted lines below.

  • NETWORK_HOST_FROM_INPUT High

    host from input plus a credential path in operative code

NETWORK_HOST_FROM_INPUT PERMISSION_SHELL_UNDECLARED SECRETS_PATH_CREDENTIAL

Why this grade

  • NETWORK_HOST_FROM_INPUT High

    A file takes a URL or endpoint as input and has no fixed host list.

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 442 `socket.create_connection((host, port))` on the bare host string.

  • PERMISSION_SHELL_UNDECLARED Medium

    Runs shell commands that the manifest or description does not mention.

    dev/eval_locomo.py, line 208 # JSON for `subprocess.check_output(...)` callers.

  • SECRETS_PATH_CREDENTIAL Medium

    Mentions a credential store path (~/.ssh, id_rsa, .npmrc, .aws/credentials, credentials.json, .netrc).

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 444 `myvm` → HostName 192.0.2.10 in ~/.ssh/config), the raw

Any High, or two or more Medium findings, give D. One Medium gives C. Low findings or a security Note give B. Each code names a finding behind the letter.

If you think this grade is wrong, email [email protected] with the entry link and your evidence. We aim to acknowledge within two working days and decide within seven. If we confirm an error, we aim to correct it within 24 hours of confirming it. These are aims, not guarantees.

Grades are a hygiene check of the source at the commit shown, on the date checked, not a security audit or a guarantee. The free directory grades are automated. Before release, a PlugVet engineer reviews every paid report and any grade we hold back, including all F grades, against the source code and the evidence we quote.

What was checked

Plain notes from the hygiene checks.

  • Permissions

    Concern

    requests shell access. No manifest field names shell or command execution.

    PERMISSION_SHELL_UNDECLARED

    dev/eval_locomo.py, line 208

    # JSON for `subprocess.check_output(...)` callers.

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 282

    r = subprocess.run([str(vmrun), "list"], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30, env=safe_env())

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 294

    r = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=180, env=safe_env())

    Show more

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 310

    r = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=180, env=safe_env())

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 322

    r = subprocess.run(

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 337

    r = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=180, env=safe_env())

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 356

    r = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=120, env=safe_env())

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 412

    r = subprocess.run([cygpath, "-u", s], capture_output=True,

  • Install and update

    Pass

    No install-time script found, and dependencies are pinned or absent.

  • Network

    Serious

    accepts a host from input, with no fixed list in this file.

    NETWORK_HOST_FROM_INPUT

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 442

    `socket.create_connection((host, port))` on the bare host string.

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 483

    with socket.create_connection((host, port), timeout=3):

    src/magpie_search/cli.py, line 286

    help="how many top URLs to fetch when --fetch (default 4)")

    Show more

    src/magpie_search/telemetry.py, line 120

    with socket.create_connection((host, port), timeout=timeout):

    src/magpie_search/telemetry.py, line 160

    urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=3).read()

    src/magpie_search/llm/client.py, line 58

    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=timeout) as resp:

    src/magpie_search/llm/client.py, line 193

    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=3.0) as resp:

    src/magpie_search/providers/youtube.py, line 128

    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=timeout) as r:

  • Secrets

    Concern

    reads a credential or environment file.

    SECRETS_ENV_READ SECRETS_PATH_CREDENTIAL

    src/magpie_search/backup.py, line 444

    `myvm` → HostName 192.0.2.10 in ~/.ssh/config), the raw

    src/magpie_search/federation.py, line 61

    if os.environ.get("MAGPIE_SEARCH_TOKENIZER", "").strip().lower().startswith("tiktoken"):

    .gitignore, line 16

    venv/

  • Agent instructions

    Pass

    No instruction to ignore earlier instructions or to hide a step.

  • Obfuscation

    Pass

    No encoded or minified payload found.

  • Licence

    Pass

    A licence file is present (LICENSE).

  • Maintainer activity

    Pass

    The latest commit is within the last 365 days.

Get the full report on this tool, £49

Note

Hygiene check of commit 47352e941547. requests shell access. No manifest field names shell or command execution. accepts a host from input, with no fixed list in this file. reads a credential or environment file.

Date and source

Date checked:

View source

github.com

Commit graded: 47352e9415473ecf2345d828dc9070110f4aec6b

This link goes to the original host. PlugVet does not host or check what you download from there, and installing it is your own decision and risk.

Read how this letter is chosen