1. Home
  2. ghidraMCP
  3. ghidraMCP for VS Code: Setup & Config

Data as of

ghidraMCP for VS Code: Setup & Config

ghidraMCP connects VS Code to core Ghidra analysis features through a plugin and Python bridge.

What you can do with ghidraMCP in VS Code

Choose it to bring Ghidra decompilation and renaming into an assistant workflow through a plugin bridge.

  • Ask an assistant to decompile and inspect binaries in Ghidra.
  • Browse program methods, classes, imports, and exports.

Before you start: ghidraMCP in VS Code

  • Ghidra
  • Python 3
  • MCP Python SDK
  • The installed and enabled GhidraMCP plugin
  • The Python bridge from a project release

Replace the README’s absolute-path placeholder with the bridge location. The HTTP URL is the bridge’s Ghidra backend, not a remote MCP endpoint. Cline can instead use the documented SSE bridge mode.

ghidraMCP VS Code configuration

  1. Choose VS Code configuration scope

    For ghidraMCP, open Workspace: .vscode/mcp.json. Merge into servers; preserve existing inputs.

  2. Add ghidraMCP to VS Code

    Use the GhidraMCP entry below in servers. Keep ghidraMCP's documented stdio connection fields and your other VS Code entries.

  3. Check ghidraMCP in VS Code

    ghidraMCP: Start in VS Code’s MCP controls; inspect output and trust prompts.

Config file · Workspace: .vscode/mcp.json

JSON
{
  "servers": {
    "GhidraMCP": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "python",
      "args": [
        "/ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO/bridge_mcp_ghidra.py",
        "--ghidra-server",
        "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Troubleshooting ghidraMCP in VS Code

  • Make python (Python) available in the workspace, container, or remote environment hosting ghidraMCP. Start through VS Code's MCP controls; inspect output and trust prompts.
  • ghidraMCP uses stdio here: VS Code must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
  • Known limitation: Requires Ghidra extension installation, restart, and plugin enablement.
  • Known limitation: Building from source requires Ghidra JAR files and Maven packaging.
  • Known limitation: Individual MCP tool identifiers are Not stated in the README.
  • General VS Code troubleshooting lives in the /clients/vscode guide.

ghidraMCP — details. VS Code guide

Frequently asked questions

For ghidraMCP, edit workspace .vscode/mcp.json. VS Code requires servers rather than mcpServers; preserve the displayed type on each entry.

VS Code's GhidraMCP example uses stdio.

ghidraMCP's VS Code configuration invokes python (Python).

Install the release extension, restart Ghidra, and enable GhidraMCPPlugin under the Developer configuration.

The documented default is localhost on port 8080, and the target address and port can be changed.