Slack MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Slack API integration. This server allows AI assistants to interact with Slack workspaces through OAuth 2.0 authenticated user tokens.

Features

• Channel Operations: List channels, get channel info, get channel members
• Message Operations: Read messages, send messages, reply to threads, search messages
• User Operations: List users, get user info, get user profiles
• File Operations: List files, get file info, upload files
• Reaction Operations: Add/remove reactions, get message reactions

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+
• A Slack App with OAuth 2.0 configured
• User token (xoxp-...) with appropriate scopes

Installation

npm install
npm run build

Slack App Setup

1. Create a Slack App

1. Go to api.slack.com/apps
2. Click "Create New App" → "From scratch"
3. Enter app name and select workspace

2. Configure OAuth Scopes

Add these User Token Scopes under "OAuth & Permissions":

channels:read        # List channels
channels:history     # Read channel messages
groups:read          # List private channels
groups:history       # Read private channel messages
im:read              # List direct messages
im:history           # Read direct messages
mpim:read            # List group DMs
mpim:history         # Read group DMs
chat:write           # Send messages
users:read           # List users
users.profile:read   # Read user profiles
files:read           # List files
files:write          # Upload files
reactions:read       # Read reactions
reactions:write      # Add/remove reactions
search:read          # Search messages

3. Configure Redirect URI

Add your platform's callback URL under "OAuth & Permissions" → "Redirect URLs":

https://your-platform.com/oauth/slack/callback

4. Get Client Credentials

Note down your:

• Client ID
• Client Secret

Environment Variables

The MCP server reads credentials from environment variables:

# Required
SLACK_ACCESS_TOKEN=xoxp-your-user-token

# Optional
SLACK_TEAM_ID=T0123456789

OAuth 2.0 Flow (Platform Implementation)

Step 1: Redirect User to Slack Authorization

const SLACK_CLIENT_ID = 'your-client-id';
const REDIRECT_URI = 'https://your-platform.com/oauth/slack/callback';
const SCOPES = 'channels:read,channels:history,chat:write,users:read,files:read,files:write,reactions:read,reactions:write,search:read,groups:read,groups:history,im:read,im:history,mpim:read,mpim:history,users.profile:read';

const authUrl = `https://slack.com/oauth/v2/authorize?client_id=${SLACK_CLIENT_ID}&user_scope=${SCOPES}&redirect_uri=${encodeURIComponent(REDIRECT_URI)}&state=${generateRandomState()}`;

// Redirect user to authUrl

Step 2: Handle OAuth Callback

// In your callback handler
app.get('/oauth/slack/callback', async (req, res) => {
  const { code, state } = req.query;

  // Verify state to prevent CSRF
  if (!verifyState(state)) {
    return res.status(400).send('Invalid state');
  }

  // Exchange code for token
  const response = await fetch('https://slack.com/api/oauth.v2.access', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
    },
    body: new URLSearchParams({
      client_id: SLACK_CLIENT_ID,
      client_secret: SLACK_CLIENT_SECRET,
      code,
      redirect_uri: REDIRECT_URI,
    }),
  });

  const data = await response.json();

  if (data.ok) {
    // Save user token to your database
    const userToken = data.authed_user.access_token; // xoxp-...
    const userId = data.authed_user.id;
    const teamId = data.team.id;

    await db.saveSlackToken(currentUserId, {
      token: userToken,
      slackUserId: userId,
      teamId: teamId,
    });

    res.redirect('/success');
  } else {
    res.status(400).send(`OAuth error: ${data.error}`);
  }
});

Step 3: Start MCP Server with User Token

// When starting the MCP server for a user, inject their token as env var
const userSlackToken = await db.getSlackToken(currentUserId);

const mcpProcess = spawn('node', ['/path/to/slack-mcp/dist/index.js'], {
  env: {
    ...process.env,
    SLACK_ACCESS_TOKEN: userSlackToken,
  },
});

MCP Configuration

Add to your Claude Code configuration (~/.claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "slack": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/slack-mcp/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "SLACK_ACCESS_TOKEN": "xoxp-your-token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Available Tools

Channel Tools

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | slack_list_channels | List all accessible channels | | slack_get_channel_info | Get channel details | | slack_get_channel_members | Get channel member list |

Message Tools

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | slack_get_messages | Get messages from a channel | | slack_get_thread_replies | Get replies in a thread | | slack_send_message | Send a message to a channel | | slack_reply_to_thread | Reply to a thread | | slack_search_messages | Search messages (requires user token) |

User Tools

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | slack_list_users | List workspace users | | slack_get_user_info | Get user details | | slack_get_user_profile | Get user profile |

File Tools

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | slack_list_files | List shared files | | slack_get_file_info | Get file details | | slack_upload_file | Upload a file |

Reaction Tools

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | slack_add_reaction | Add emoji reaction | | slack_remove_reaction | Remove emoji reaction | | slack_get_reactions | Get message reactions |

Example Usage

List Channels

{
  "tool": "slack_list_channels",
  "arguments": {
    "types": "public_channel,private_channel",
    "limit": 50
  }
}

Send Message

{
  "tool": "slack_send_message",
  "arguments": {
    "channel_id": "C1234567890",
    "text": "Hello from MCP!"
  }
}

Search Messages

{
  "tool": "slack_search_messages",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "from:@user in:#channel important",
    "count": 20
  }
}

Error Handling

The server returns structured error responses:

{
  "error": "Slack API Error (invalid_auth): Invalid authentication token."
}

Common error codes:

• invalid_auth: Token is invalid
• token_revoked: Token has been revoked
• missing_scope: Token lacks required scope
• channel_not_found: Channel doesn't exist
• ratelimited: Rate limit exceeded

Security Considerations

• Never expose user tokens in client-side code
• Store tokens securely in your database (encrypted)
• Use HTTPS for all OAuth redirects
• Validate state parameter to prevent CSRF
• Rotate tokens periodically using refresh tokens
• Request only necessary scopes

License

MIT