@database-mcp/mariadb

MCP server giving AI clients safe, structured access to a MariaDB database. Two tools, guardrails on by default. MariaDB is MySQL wire-compatible, so this is a thin package over the @database-mcp/mysql adapter with MariaDB-flavored configuration.

Quick start (Claude Desktop / Claude Code / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mariadb": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@database-mcp/mariadb"],
      "env": {
        "MARIADB_HOST": "127.0.0.1",
        "MARIADB_USER": "readonly_user",
        "MARIADB_PASSWORD": "your-password",
        "MARIADB_DATABASE": "mydb"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration

Use whichever method fits your setup. When methods are combined, flags win over the YAML file, and the YAML file wins over environment variables.

Environment variables

MARIADB_HOST, MARIADB_PORT, MARIADB_USER, MARIADB_PASSWORD, MARIADB_DATABASE, as in the quick start above.

Mounted secret file (Docker, Kubernetes)

Keeps the password out of the environment and out of every config file. Point MARIADB_PASSWORD_FILE at a file that contains only the password:

"env": {
  "MARIADB_HOST": "127.0.0.1",
  "MARIADB_USER": "readonly_user",
  "MARIADB_PASSWORD_FILE": "/run/secrets/mariadb_password",
  "MARIADB_DATABASE": "mydb"
}

YAML config file

Keeps the client entry down to two lines. Pass an absolute path, since the working directory at launch is unpredictable:

"args": ["-y", "@database-mcp/mariadb", "--config", "/absolute/path/database-mcp.yaml"]

# /absolute/path/database-mcp.yaml
connection:
  host: 127.0.0.1
  port: 3306
  user: readonly_user
  password: ${MARIADB_PASSWORD} # expanded from the environment at load time
  # or read it from a mounted file instead:
  # password_file: /run/secrets/mariadb_password
  database: mydb

guardrails:
  readOnly: true
  maxRows: 1000
  queryTimeoutMs: 30000

Never write a literal password into the YAML file. Use ${VAR} expansion or password_file as shown.

Connection string

"args": ["-y", "@database-mcp/mariadb", "--dsn", "mysql://[email protected]:3306/mydb"]

MariaDB uses the MySQL URI scheme. Putting the password inside the DSN works but is discouraged. If you do it anyway, the server redacts it from any log output.

Checking the result

Run the server with --print-config to see exactly what it resolved. The password always prints as ***.

Tools

• execute_sql { sql } runs a single SQL statement.
• search_objects { table? } lists tables, or describes one (columns, indexes, foreign keys).

Guardrails (defaults)

| Guardrail | Default | Override | | ------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Read-only | on | --allow-write / ALLOW_WRITE | | Row cap | 1000 | --max-rows / MAX_ROWS | | Query timeout | 30000 ms | --query-timeout-ms / QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS |

Read-only is enforced in two layers: a conservative SQL guard, plus SET SESSION TRANSACTION READ ONLY on every pooled connection.

Part of database-mcp

One package per engine, identical tool contract, shared conformance suite: github.com/arifulislamat/database-mcp

License

MIT