modelcontextprotocol / modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk

[v2] Add an end-to-end public-client PKCE server contract

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v1 v2
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Python
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Description

What happened?

With mcp==2.1.1, an MCP authorization server still cannot advertise and register an OAuth public client consistently without downstream patching:

  • build_metadata() does not include none in token_endpoint_auth_methods_supported.
  • RegistrationHandler defaults an omitted token_endpoint_auth_method to client_secret_post, minting a secret even for clients intending to operate as PKCE public clients.
  • The individual token handler pieces support token_endpoint_auth_method="none" when it is explicitly supplied, but there is no end-to-end SDK test pinning discovery -> DCR -> authorization-code/PKCE token exchange for a public client.

This is related to #2260, which was closed, and #2261, which remains open. The inconsistency is still present in the published v2 SDK.

For a real MCP server integration, we currently have to monkeypatch metadata generation and DCR's omitted-method behavior at import time. Those patches depend on private implementation details and are difficult to remove safely without a supported end-to-end public-client contract.

What did you expect?

The v2 server auth surface should support a complete public-client PKCE flow without monkeypatching:

  1. Authorization-server metadata advertises none.
  2. DCR preserves an explicit token_endpoint_auth_method="none" and has a documented, interoperable default for omitted methods.
  3. The token endpoint accepts the registered public client without a client secret and verifies the PKCE code_verifier against the authorization code's challenge.
  4. An SDK integration test covers the full flow so future releases do not regress it.

Merging or superseding #2261 plus adding the end-to-end test would provide a clear downstream exit condition.

Code to reproduce
from mcp.server.auth.handlers.register import RegistrationHandler
from mcp.server.auth.routes import build_metadata

# In mcp==2.1.1:
# - build_metadata() omits "none" from token_endpoint_auth_methods_supported
# - RegistrationHandler.handle defaults an omitted token_endpoint_auth_method
#   to "client_secret_post"
SDK version

2.1.1

Area

Auth

Related
  • #2260
  • #2261

Contributor guide

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First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with mcp.server.auth.routes.build_metadata and mcp.server.auth.handlers.register.RegistrationHandler, then trace the authorization-code/PKCE token handlers and existing SDK auth tests. Done means discovery advertises none, registration handles explicit and omitted methods consistently, the token exchange verifies the PKCE code_verifier without a secret, and an end-to-end integration test covers the flow.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
authentication, backend-api-design, security
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
50/100

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