What is the difference between mcp-scan and Firmis?

mcp-scan is focused on MCP server configurations with a narrow scope. Firmis covers any AI agent platform (MCP, Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, CrewAI, AutoGPT, OpenClaw, Nanobot, and Supabase) with hundreds of detection rules, auto-fix, pentesting, and zero-install via npx.

Should I use mcp-scan or Firmis for MCP security?

Use mcp-scan if you exclusively run MCP servers and want focused MCP-specific analysis. Use Firmis if you run multiple AI agent platforms, want scan + fix + pentest in one tool, or prefer zero-install (npx vs pip). They are complementary and can be used together.

Can I use both mcp-scan and Firmis?

Yes. They do not conflict. Use mcp-scan for deep MCP configuration analysis and Firmis for your full agent stack coverage. mcp-scan + Firmis together gives you MCP depth plus breadth across all other platforms.

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Tool ComparisonJanuary 29, 2026·6 min read

mcp-scan vs Firmis: Which MCP Security Tool?

mcp-scan is a solid MCP-focused scanner. Firmis scans your entire agent stack. Here's when to use each - and why you might want both.

TL;DR

mcp-scan is a solid MCP-focused config scanner - good at what it does
Firmis scans any AI agent platform (MCP + OpenClaw + Claude + Cursor + Codex + CrewAI + AutoGPT + Nanobot)
They're complementary - use mcp-scan for deep MCP analysis, Firmis for full stack
If you use more than MCP, you need more than mcp-scan

What is mcp-scan?

mcp-scan (~500 GitHub stars) is an MCP-focused security scanner originally built by Invariant Labs, now part of Snyk. It checks your MCP server configurations for tool poisoning patterns and known vulnerabilities.

It's focused, lightweight, and good at what it does. If you only run MCP servers, it's a reasonable choice.

What is Firmis?

Firmis is an open-source agentic security scanner. Hundreds of rules across any AI agent platform, scan + fix + pentest, all from one command. No install, no account, no config.

$ npx firmis-cli scan

Side-by-Side

Dimension	mcp-scan	Firmis
Platforms	MCP only	Any platform
Detection rules	MCP patterns	Hundreds across threat categories
Secret scanning	No	60 patterns
Auto-fix	No	Yes (firmis fix)
Pentesting	No	Yes (firmis pentest)
Known-malicious blocklist	Limited	50+ entries
Install	pip install	npx (zero install)
Runtime	Python	Node.js

When to Use Which

Use mcp-scan when

→ You only use MCP servers
→ You want MCP-specific deep analysis
→ You're already in a Python workflow

Use Firmis when

→ You use multiple AI platforms
→ You want scan + fix + pentest in one tool
→ You want zero-install (npx)
→ You need secret scanning + threat detection

Can You Use Both?

Yes. They're complementary. mcp-scan for focused MCP config analysis, Firmis for your full agent stack. No conflicts, no overlap issues.

The Right Tool for the Job

→MCP-only setup → mcp-scan is fine
→Multi-platform setup → Firmis saves you from the patchwork problem
→Both → mcp-scan for MCP depth, Firmis for everything else

The best security tool is the one that actually covers your entire attack surface.

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