You should not allow your MCP to run arbitrary code because it can be dangerous. How would you restrict the MCP to only allow certain operations, such as predefined safe SQL statements?

To prevent arbitrary code execution, apply the principle of least privilege and enforce a whitelist of allowed operations. First, isolate the MCP in a sandboxed environment with network segmentation so it can only reach the database over a controlled interface. Use role‑based access control (RBAC) to grant the MCP only the permissions it needs, such as SELECT on specific tables. Next, replace dynamic SQL with parameterized queries or stored procedures that expose only safe operations. If the MCP must run user‑supplied queries, validate the query against a whitelist of allowed keywords (e.g., SELECT, FROM, WHERE) and reject any statements containing INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, or DDL. Additionally, implement a query‑parsing layer that checks for nested sub‑queries or UNIONs that could bypass restrictions. Finally, audit all executed statements and set up alerts for any deviations. This layered approach ensures the MCP can perform its tasks without risking data corruption or leakage.