> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.formal.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Socket

> Check package supply-chain scores and files, and review Socket organization alerts.

Developer Tools Publisher: Socket

Route Socket MCP traffic through Formal to control and log what AI agents do in Socket:

* **Block** tools you don't want agents to call, such as `package_file_contents`.
* **Mask** sensitive data in tool results, such as emails in `depscore` responses.
* **Keep credentials at the Connector**, so users and agents never see Socket tokens.
* **Log** every tool call with the user, the MCP client and its parameters.

Cloud agents

Laptop / VM

Endpoint

[https://mcp.socket.dev/](https://mcp.socket.dev/)

Connector

![](https://docs.formal.ai/static/brands/mcp/socket.svg)

## 0. Prepare your Connector

The Connector needs an MCP listener and a hostname with wildcard DNS and TLS.
Set them up once by following [Deploy the Connector](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/core-concepts/connectors/mcp-gateway.md#deploy-the-connector). Every MCP server reuses them.

## 1. Add Socket MCP server to your Resources

> [tab] UI
>
> 1. Open the [Admin Catalog](https://app.formal.ai/catalog) and click **Add MCP**.
> 2. Select the **Socket** template.
> 3. Enter a DNS-label **Name**, such as `socket`.
> 4. Choose the **Space** containing your Connector, such as `default`.
> 5. Configure upstream authentication as described below, then save.
>
> If no Connector is in the selected Space, the **Configuration** tab shows **MCP clients can't connect directly yet**.
> The reason reads: `No Connector is in this server's Space.`
>
> Adding Socket to the Admin Catalog

> [tab] Terraform
>
> Set `space_id` to the ID of the Space containing your Connector.
>
> ```hcl theme={"languages":{"custom":["/languages/cel.json","/languages/rego.json"]}}
> resource "formal_resource" "socket" {
>   name                    = "socket"
>   technology              = "mcp"
>   hostname                = "mcp.socket.dev"
>   space_id                = "<SPACE_ID>"
>   native_users_v3_enabled = true
>   port                    = 443
>   tags = {
>     "mcp-endpoint" = "/"
>   }
> }
>
> resource "formal_resource_oauth_settings" "socket" {
>   resource_id = formal_resource.socket.id
> }
> ```

> [tab] Pulumi
>
> Set `spaceId` to the ID of the Space containing your Connector.
>
> ```ts theme={"languages":{"custom":["/languages/cel.json","/languages/rego.json"]}}
> import * as formal from "@formalco/pulumi";
>
> const resource = new formal.Resource("mcp", {
>   name: "socket",
>   technology: "mcp",
>   hostname: "mcp.socket.dev",
>   port: 443,
>   spaceId: "<SPACE_ID>",
>   tags: { "mcp-endpoint": "/" },
>   nativeUsersV3Enabled: true,
> });
>
> new formal.ResourceOauthSettings("mcpOAuth", {
>   resourceId: resource.id,
> });
> ```

> [tab] API
>
> Create a Resource with the MCP endpoint and its Space ID.
>
> ```bash theme={"languages":{"custom":["/languages/cel.json","/languages/rego.json"]}}
> export FORMAL_API_KEY="<YOUR_API_KEY>"
> RESOURCE_RESPONSE=$(curl --fail --silent --show-error \
>   --request POST \
>   https://api.formal.ai/core.v1.ResourceService/CreateResource \
>   --header "x-api-key: ${FORMAL_API_KEY}" \
>   --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
>   --data-binary @- <<JSON
>   {
>     "name": "socket",
>     "hostname": "mcp.socket.dev",
>     "port": 443,
>     "technology": "mcp",
>     "spaceId": "<SPACE_ID>",
>     "tags": [
>       {
>         "key": "mcp-endpoint",
>         "value": "/"
>       }
>     ]
>   }
> JSON
> )
> RESOURCE_ID=$(printf '%s' "${RESOURCE_RESPONSE}" | jq -r '.resource.id')
> curl --fail --silent --show-error \
>   --request POST \
>   https://api.formal.ai/core.v1.ResourceService/CreateResourceOAuthSettings \
>   --header "x-api-key: ${FORMAL_API_KEY}" \
>   --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
>   --data-binary @- <<JSON
>   {
>     "resourceId": "${RESOURCE_ID}"
>   }
> JSON
> ```

## 2. Setup Authentication

> [tab] Linked Accounts (Recommended)
>
> Each user links their own Socket account once in the Employee Catalog, and the Connector sends that user's token to Socket.
>
> ![Linked Accounts selected under How does Formal authenticate to this resource?](https://mintcdn.com/formal/vzPMpIcsF4BYmdx8/assets/images/mcp-servers/auth-linked-accounts.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=vzPMpIcsF4BYmdx8\&q=85\&s=dc448db2a373faa6e1bf49fd5ffaf7c4)
>
> Under **OAuth app**, keep **Formal's App**.
>
> #### Formal's App (default)
>
> Formal has a registered OAuth app with Socket, so you register nothing.
> Users see Formal on Socket's consent screen.

> [tab] Shared Credentials
>
> An administrator stores one Socket token in Formal, and the Connector sends it on every user's requests without showing it to them.
>
> ![Shared Credentials selected under How does Formal authenticate to this resource?](https://mintcdn.com/formal/R-3CwVgs8IU6liji/assets/images/mcp-servers/auth-shared-credentials.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=R-3CwVgs8IU6liji\&q=85\&s=91032e202518088292ee1cf39451b9ef)
>
> Socket's MCP endpoint doesn't accept API tokens, so use Linked Accounts.

> [tab] Pass Through
>
> Each user sends their own Socket sign-in or token from their MCP client, and Formal forwards it unchanged without storing it.
>
> ![Pass Through selected under How does Formal authenticate to this resource?](https://mintcdn.com/formal/R-3CwVgs8IU6liji/assets/images/mcp-servers/auth-pass-through.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=R-3CwVgs8IU6liji\&q=85\&s=c14ae61de2dba8b567626cba03aae2cf)
>
> Nothing in the request identifies the Formal user. Formal attributes these requests only when they come through the [Formal Endpoint](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/core-concepts/connectors/mcp-gateway.md#identity-headers). Pass-through servers have no Connector address, so cloud agents can't use them.
>
> For OAuth, each MCP client signs in to Socket itself.

## 3. Route Endpoint traffic

Auth is managed at the Connector level when you use Linked Accounts or Shared Credentials, so the Endpoint needs to forward the MCP traffic to it.
Laptops and VMs with the Formal Endpoint keep using `https://mcp.socket.dev/`, and a network rule sends that traffic to the Connector.

> [tab] UI
>
> 1. Go to [Network Rules](https://app.formal.ai/network-rules) and create a rule named `socket-mcp`.
> 2. Paste this expression, set the rule to **Active**, then save:
>
> ```javascript theme={"languages":{"custom":["/languages/cel.json","/languages/rego.json"]}}
> {
>   "condition": {
>     "pre_tcp": process.is_agent,
>     // Every MCP server added to Formal: process.is_agent && resource.technology == "mcp"
>     "pre_tls": process.is_agent && hostname == "mcp.socket.dev",
>     "post_tls": true
>   },
>   "outputs": {
>     "forward_to_connector": true
>   }
> }
> ```

> [tab] Terraform
>
> ```hcl theme={"languages":{"custom":["/languages/cel.json","/languages/rego.json"]}}
> resource "formal_network_rule" "socket_mcp" {
>   name        = "socket-mcp"
>   description = "Forward Socket MCP traffic from agents to the Connector"
>   status      = "active"
>
>   # Every MCP server added to Formal: set pre_tls to process.is_agent && resource.technology == "mcp"
>   cel_expression = <<-EOT
>     {
>       "condition": {
>         "pre_tcp": process.is_agent,
>         "pre_tls": process.is_agent && hostname == "mcp.socket.dev",
>         "post_tls": true
>       },
>       "outputs": {
>         "forward_to_connector": true
>       }
>     }
>   EOT
> }
> ```

> [tab] Pulumi
>
> ```ts theme={"languages":{"custom":["/languages/cel.json","/languages/rego.json"]}}
> import * as formal from "@formalco/pulumi";
>
> new formal.NetworkRule("socketMcp", {
>   name: "socket-mcp",
>   description: "Forward Socket MCP traffic from agents to the Connector",
>   status: "active",
>   // Every MCP server added to Formal: set pre_tls to process.is_agent && resource.technology == "mcp"
>   celExpression: `
>     {
>       "condition": {
>         "pre_tcp": process.is_agent,
>         "pre_tls": process.is_agent && hostname == "mcp.socket.dev",
>         "post_tls": true
>       },
>       "outputs": {
>         "forward_to_connector": true
>       }
>     }
>   `,
> });
> ```

> [tab] API
>
> ```bash theme={"languages":{"custom":["/languages/cel.json","/languages/rego.json"]}}
> export FORMAL_API_KEY="<YOUR_API_KEY>"
> # Every MCP server added to Formal: set pre_tls to process.is_agent && resource.technology == "mcp"
> CEL_EXPRESSION=$(cat <<'CEL'
> {
>   "condition": {
>     "pre_tcp": process.is_agent,
>     "pre_tls": process.is_agent && hostname == "mcp.socket.dev",
>     "post_tls": true
>   },
>   "outputs": {
>     "forward_to_connector": true
>   }
> }
> CEL
> )
> jq -n --arg cel "${CEL_EXPRESSION}" '{
>   name: "socket-mcp",
>   description: "Forward Socket MCP traffic from agents to the Connector",
>   status: "active",
>   celExpression: $cel
> }' | curl --fail --silent --show-error \
>   --request POST \
>   https://api.formal.ai/core.v1.DesktopService/CreateDesktopRoutingRule \
>   --header "x-api-key: ${FORMAL_API_KEY}" \
>   --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
>   --data-binary @-
> ```

The rule matches [known agents](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/network-rules.md#known-agent-identities) only.
See [Identity headers](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/core-concepts/connectors/mcp-gateway.md#identity-headers).

Cloud agents such as Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor Cloud Agents don't run the Endpoint.
Point them at this server's Connector address, `https://socket.<connector-hostname>/mcp`.
Find it in the [Admin Catalog](https://app.formal.ai/catalog): open Socket, then copy **Connector address** on the **Configuration** tab.

## 4. Create policies

### Tools

The Admin Catalog lists these tools for Socket:

| Tool | Description |
| - | - |
| `depscore` | Get supply-chain, quality, maintenance, vulnerability, and license scores for packages. |
| `organizations` | List your Socket organizations. |
| `alerts` | List the latest security alerts for an organization. |
| `threat_feed` | Look up items in an organization's threat feed. |
| `package_files` | List the files published in a package. |
| `package_file_contents` | Read a file from a package. |
| `package_file_grep` | Search a package file with a regular expression. |

## 5. Check the logs

Open [Logs](https://app.formal.ai/logs) and search for `resource.name:socket`.
Each Socket tool call is one `request` log with the user, the MCP client and the tool.
Open a log to see its tool parameters and the policies it triggered.

Socket tool calls in Logs, including a masked response and a blocked write

See [Logs](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/observability/logs.md) for search syntax and filters.

## Troubleshooting

> [accordion] The agent says Formal has no current sign-in
>
> The agent relays: `Formal has no current socket sign-in for you. Link or re-link your socket account in Formal…`
>
> **Cause:** The user never linked Socket, or the token expired and couldn't be refreshed.
>
> **Fix:** Open the server in the [Employee Catalog](https://catalog.formal.ai) and link Socket again.

> [accordion] The agent says Socket rejected your credentials
>
> The agent relays: `socket rejected your credentials. Link or re-link your socket account in Formal…`
>
> **Cause:** Socket no longer accepts the linked token, for example after the user revoked access in Socket.
>
> **Fix:** Link Socket again from the [Employee Catalog](https://catalog.formal.ai).

> [accordion] Laptop traffic doesn't appear in Logs
>
> **Cause:** The Endpoint isn't running, or the network rule doesn't match the client.
>
> **Fix:** Check the Endpoint is connected. The rule above only matches [known agents](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/network-rules.md#known-agent-identities). Other clients, such as a browser, reach Socket directly unless the rule also matches them. See [Network rules](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/network-rules.md).

> [accordion] MCP clients can't connect directly yet
>
> **Cause:** The **Configuration** tab lists the reason, most often `No Connector is in this server's Space.`
>
> **Fix:** Edit the server and choose the Space containing its Connector.

## Next Steps

> [card] [MCP Gateway](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/core-concepts/connectors/mcp-gateway.md)
>
> Configure Connector routing and downstream access

> [card] [All MCP servers](https://docs.formal.ai/docs/guides/core-concepts/connectors/mcp-servers/index.md)
>
> Browse every MCP server template


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