MCP server requests OAuth scopes beyond what its tools need
Summary
MCP server advertising a "calendar viewer" that requests `offline_access` and `mail.read` scopes on setup. Scope grant is persistent and usable off-session, well beyond the narrow tool set the server exposes to the agent.
Severity & confidence
High
Credible abuse path with meaningful impact on confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Remediate on a short timeline; do not wait for the next sprint cycle.
Confirmed
Observed directly by Jiffy scanners or validated by multiple independent sources. Indicators are reliable enough to drive automated action.
Indicators
Observed patterns and artifacts associated with this entry. Each indicator can be copied into your detection stack or SIEM.
(?i)scope\s*[:=]\s*[^\n]{0,200}offline_access
Detection rule
A YARA-style pseudo-rule auto-generated from the indicators above. Useful as a starting point — adapt the syntax for your target detection platform.
rule jiffy_ti_2026_000044
{
meta:
source = "jiffy-intel"
severity = "high"
description = "Auto-generated from Jiffy Intel indicators"
strings:
$content_pattern_0 = "(?i)scope\\s*[:=]\\s*[^\\n]{0,200}offline_access"
condition:
$content_pattern_0
}Auto-generated from the indicators above. Adapt syntax for your detection stack before deploying.
Affected tools
| Tool | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Any MCP-capable agent | * | vulnerable |
Example artifacts
Sanitized examples of artifacts Jiffy has observed exhibiting this pattern. Publisher handles are redacted; version ranges and status reflect the most recent scan.
- calendar-viewer-mcpMCP serverRemoved
- day-planner-mcpMCP serverUnder review
- schedule-helper-mcpMCP serverQuarantined
How to remediate
Reject MCP servers that request scopes beyond the minimum needed for their declared tools.
Timeline & sources
Timeline
- First observedMar 9, 20261 month ago
- Last updatedApr 24, 2026today
- PublishedMar 23, 202625 days ago
Sources
References
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