Atlas / MCP servers / erniebrodeur / Grep Server

Grep ServerSAFE

mcp/erniebrodeur/grep-server

simple mcp server to wrap the local instance of grep.

Verdict
SAFE
Grade
B
Trust score
89 /100
Exposed tools
1 1r · 0w · 0d
Transport
—
License
GPL-3.0
Stars
24
01

Overview

From the repository's own README, as read at the audited commit. Badges and raw HTML are left out.

[](https://smithery.ai/server/@erniebrodeur/mcp-grep)

A grep server implementation that exposes grep functionality through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Installation

Installing via Smithery

To install Grep Server for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @erniebrodeur/mcp-grep --client claude

Manual Installation

pip install mcp-grep

Usage

MCP-Grep runs as a server that can be used by MCP-compatible clients:

# Start the MCP-Grep server
mcp-grep-server

# Or use the MCP Inspector for interactive debugging and testing
mcp-grep-inspector

The server exposes the following MCP functionality:

  • Resource: grep://info - Returns information about the system grep binary
  • Tool: grep - Searches for patterns in files using the system grep binary

Features

  • Information about the system grep binary (path, version, supported features)
  • Search for patterns in files using regular expressions
  • Support for common grep options:
  • Case-insensitive matching
  • Context lines (before and after matches)
  • Maximum match count
  • Fixed string matching (non-regex)
  • Recursive directory searching
  • Natural language prompt understanding for easier use with LLMs
  • Interactive debugging and testing through MCP Inspector

Example API Usage

Using the MCP Python client:

from mcp.client import MCPClient

# Connect to the MCP-Grep server
client = MCPClient()

# Get information about the grep binary
grep_info = client.get_resource("grep://info")
print(grep_info)

# Search for a pattern in files
result = client.use_tool("grep", {
"pattern": "search_pattern",
"paths": ["file.txt", "directory/"],
"ignore_case": True,
"recursive": True
})
print(result)

Natural Language Prompts

MCP-Grep understands natural language pro

Read from source at commit 99f0e2f73a65OBSERVED · 2026-10-09
02

Connect

Built from this server's own package name, version and transport as found in its source — not copied from anyone's documentation, so it cannot drift against a page we do not control.

claude-code
claude mcp add mcp-grep -- uvx mcp-grep
claude-desktop
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-grep": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-grep"
      ]
    }
  }
}
03

Exposed tools (1)

1 read · 0 write · 0 destructive.

ToolRiskDescription
grepreadSearch for pattern in files using system grep.
04

Trust audit

SAFEgrade B · trust 89/100 Nothing in the source contradicts what it says it does. Grade A is reserved for packages that have also passed the behavioural sandbox.

LayerWhat it checksResult
L0Provenance & inventoryPASS
L1Static analysis of the codePASS
L2Instruction surface (what it tells the agent)PASS
L3Class-specific surfacePASS
L4Behavioural (sandbox)SKIPPED

What the source does

Filesystem
none-observed
Network
none-observed
Shell
none-observed
Dependencies
pinned
Secrets in source
none-found

Findings (0)

No findings outside the package's declared scope.

Gates applied: no_behavioural_pass.

Audited 2026-10-09 · audit v0.4.1 · source sha 99f0e2f73a65full audit observations/trust-audit/mcp-server/erniebrodeur__grep-server.json · Report an issue / request a re-scan
05

Audit history

Every audit this server has had. A grade with a past is a grade somebody is still checking.

DateSourceVerdictGradeScoreChange
2026-10-0999f0e2f73a65SAFEB89first audit
06

Questions

What is the Grep Server MCP server?

simple mcp server to wrap the local instance of grep.

What tools does Grep Server expose?

1 in total: 1 read-only, 0 that write, and 0 that can delete or overwrite. Every one is listed on this page with its risk.

Is Grep Server safe to connect to an agent?

The audit found nothing in the source that contradicts what it says it does, and graded it B (89/100). Grade A is held back for packages that have also passed a sandboxed behavioural run, which is why a clean server reads B.

What credentials does Grep Server need?

No credential environment variables were found in its source, so it appears to need none.

How current is this page?

The grade is for one exact copy of the source (99f0e2f73a65), read on 2026-10-09. The repository is watched and re-audited when it changes.

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