Attacking Mcp Servers And Ai Apps: A Practical Course

Published

Learn to identify vulnerabilities and secure AI applications and MCP servers through hands-on practical exercises

4.7
👥 12,450 students
⏱️ 8 hours
🔄 Updated February 2026
🎞️ Subtitle: Tiếng Anh + Tiếng Việt

As MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers become a core component of modern AI infrastructure, understanding both how to build and secure them is critical. This course delivers a practical, hands-on pathway to mastering MCP architecture, deployment, and security — equipping you with the skills to develop, test, and protect AI-integrated systems with confidence.

What you'll learn

  • Understand MCP server architecture and security implications
  • Identify common vulnerabilities in AI applications
  • Perform practical security testing on MCP servers
  • Implement secure coding practices for AI systems
  • Test and validate security measures
  • Build secure MCP server implementations
  • Understand attack vectors and defense mechanisms
  • Apply security best practices to AI applications
  • Conduct vulnerability assessments
  • Develop secure AI workflows

Course content

3 sections 15 lectures 1h 2m total length
1 - Intro
1 lectures • 1 min
1 - Getting the most out of this course
1 min
2 - Build Your First MCP Server In Python
7 lectures • 30 min
2 - What is MCP and Why Do We Need It
6 min
3 - Quick Demo Google Drive MCP with Claude Desktop app
2 min
5 - MCP Architecture local vs remote MCP servers
6 min
8 - Your first local MCP server with FastMCP SDK
6 min
10 - Integrating our Local MCP Server with the Claude Desktop App
3 min
11 - Adding MCP Server resource
2 min
12 - Adding MCP Server prompt
2 min
3 - Attacking MCP servers and AI Apps
7 lectures • 37 min
13 - Exploiting SSRF in Remote MCP server Tool Part 1
4 min
15 - Exploiting SSRF in Remote MCP server Tool Part 2
3 min
16 - Confused Deputy MCP Broken Authorization Part 1
4 min
19 - Confused Deputy MCP Broken Authorization Part 2
4 min
20 - Extra Indirect Prompt Injection Secret Exfiltration via Google Antigravity
7 min
21 - Direct Prompt Injection AI Assistance Chatbot Part 1
6 min
22 - Direct Prompt Injection AI Assistance Chatbot Part 2
6 min

Requirements

  • Basic understanding of Python programming
  • Familiarity with AI concepts and LLMs
  • Knowledge of basic networking concepts
  • A computer with Python installed
  • Willingness to learn security practices

MCP Security Course – Build, Attack, and Secure AI Infrastructure

As companies rapidly integrate MCP servers (Model Context Protocol servers) into their AI infrastructure, a new and often overlooked attack surface is emerging. Many development teams are deploying MCP-based systems without fully understanding the security implications — creating vulnerable AI environments that attackers can exploit.

This course is designed to address that gap.

Built for developers, AI engineers, and cybersecurity professionals, this hands-on training program teaches you how to both build secure MCP servers and identify critical vulnerabilities before attackers do. If you are working with AI systems, LLM integrations, or AI-powered backend services, understanding MCP security is no longer optional — it is essential.

All labs are fully containerized using Docker, eliminating complex setup. You will follow step-by-step instructions in a controlled environment, making this course practical, repeatable, and production-relevant.

You can see more courses about this AI category at here:

What You Will Learn

Section 1 – Building MCP Servers from Scratch

You will start by developing a strong technical foundation in MCP server development using Python and the FastMCP SDK.

Key topics include:

  • Understanding MCP client-server architecture
  • Differences between local vs remote MCP servers
  • Integrating MCP servers with Claude Desktop
  • Exposing tools, resources, and prompts to AI models
  • Identifying common design flaws in AI integrations

By the end of this section, you will not only know how to deploy an MCP server, but also understand the architectural weaknesses that frequently lead to security vulnerabilities.

Section 2 – Offensive MCP Security & Real-World Exploitation

You will then shift into an attacker’s mindset through practical, Docker-based labs focused on real-world vulnerabilities affecting AI infrastructure.

You will exploit and understand:

  • Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

Abuse URL-fetching tools to access internal resources and bypass protections using redirect chains.

  • Confused Deputy Attacks

Exploit improper authorization when MCP servers have excessive backend privileges.

  • Prompt Injection Attacks

Manipulate AI-generated SQL queries to extract unauthorized data, including analysis of the Google “Antigravity” credential exfiltration case study.

  • Directory Traversal & Information Disclosure

Extract sensitive files through misconfigured MCP resources and improper input validation.

Who This Course Is For

  • Developers building AI-integrated systems
  • Security engineers securing LLM infrastructure
  • Penetration testers exploring AI attack surfaces
  • AI platform architects working with MCP servers
  • Anyone researching AI security vulnerabilities

Why MCP Security Matters

With the rapid growth of AI infrastructure, LLM-based applications, and AI tool integration frameworks, MCP servers are becoming critical components in production systems. Without proper security controls, they introduce risks such as data leakage, backend compromise, and privilege escalation.

Understanding how to build and break MCP servers gives you a decisive advantage in securing next-generation AI systems.

If you want to confidently design, test, and secure MCP-based AI infrastructure — rather than unknowingly deploy vulnerable systems —

👉 Enroll now and start mastering MCP security today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MCP Security course about?

The MCP Security course teaches how to build, attack, and secure Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers used in modern AI systems, helping developers understand security risks and protections in AI infrastructure.

Who is this MCP Security course designed for?

The course is designed for AI engineers, backend developers, security engineers, pentesters, AI architects, and anyone working with LLM applications or AI-integrated backend systems.

What is MCP (Model Context Protocol) in AI systems?

MCP is a protocol that connects AI models and agents with external tools, resources, and backend systems, enabling AI applications to interact with real-world data and services.

Do I need prior security experience to take this course?

Basic programming knowledge is helpful, but the course provides step-by-step guidance, allowing learners to understand MCP security concepts through practical labs.

Will I learn how to build an MCP server?

Yes. You will build an MCP server using Python and the FastMCP SDK, learning client-server architecture, tool exposure, and integration with AI applications such as Claude Desktop.

Does the course include hands-on security labs?

Yes. All labs run in a Docker environment, allowing you to safely reproduce real-world attack scenarios and security testing workflows.

What types of AI security vulnerabilities are covered?

The course covers vulnerabilities such as Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), Confused Deputy attacks, Prompt Injection attacks, and Directory Traversal leading to information disclosure.

Will I learn offensive security techniques for AI systems?

Yes. The course teaches attacker mindset and exploitation techniques to help you understand how vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited in MCP-based AI systems.

How does this course help protect AI infrastructure?

By understanding both system design and attack techniques, learners can identify weaknesses early, implement secure MCP architectures, and prevent data leaks or unauthorized access.

Is this course relevant for LLM and AI agent development?

Yes. MCP servers are central to many AI agent and LLM integrations, making MCP security knowledge essential for production-ready AI systems.

What practical skills will I gain after completing the course?

You will be able to build MCP servers, analyze attack surfaces, exploit common vulnerabilities in controlled environments, and implement defensive strategies to secure AI infrastructure.

Why is MCP security important for modern AI applications?

As AI agents increasingly interact with backend systems, insecure MCP implementations can lead to data leaks, privilege escalation, and full system compromise, making security a critical requirement.

About the Instructor

Hussam Khrais

Hussam Khrais

AI Security & MCP Specialist

4.7 Rating
👥 15,000 Students
📚 8 Courses

Experienced security professional specializing in AI applications and Model Context Protocol implementations with years of practical experience in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities.

Course preview
4.7
👥12,450 students
⏱️8 hours

This course includes:

  • 🎥On-demand video
  • 📥Downloadable resources
  • 📱Access on mobile and TV
  • ♾️Full lifetime access
  • 🏆Certificate of completion