MCP Gateway v0.5.0 - 2025-08-06 - Enterprise Operability, Auth, Configuration & Observability
This enterprise-focused release delivers 42 resolved issues with major improvements to authentication, configuration management, error handling, and developer experience. Building on v0.4.0's security foundation, v0.5.0 brings enhanced JWT security, comprehensive UI/UX improvements, and strengthened input validation across all endpoints.
🏆 Enterprise Operability Achievements
This release enhances production readiness with:
- Enhanced JWT Security – Mandatory token expiration enforcement when configured
 - Masked Sensitive Data – Authentication credentials properly hidden in API responses
 - Improved Error Handling – User-friendly messages with actionable guidance
 - Better Observability – Enhanced status reporting and service visibility
 - Developer Productivity – File-specific linting and comprehensive Makefile improvements
 - Stronger Validation – XSS prevention and input validation across all endpoints
 
Important: Admin UI remains development-only with enhanced security defaults. Never expose it in production. Build your own production UI with appropriate security controls. Refer to the Securing MCP Gateway documentation.
Beta Software Notice: MCP Gateway is in early beta. Expect breaking changes between minor versions. Use only with trusted upstream MCP servers. This is an OPEN SOURCE PROJECT with community-driven support and no official support from IBM. Please refer to SECURITY.md and our Roadmap for more info.
✨ Highlights
- 🔐 JWT Token Security – Mandatory expiration when 
REQUIRE_TOKEN_EXPIRATION=true(#425) - 🎭 Masked Auth Values – Sensitive credentials hidden in all API responses (#601, #602)
 - 🧪 Enhanced Test Tool – Default values, array/boolean handling, multiline support (#620-#644)
 - 🛠️ Developer Experience – File-specific linting with 
make lint filename(#410, #660) - 📊 Better Visibility – MCP Server Name column in tools/resources overview (#506, #624)
 - 🔍 Security Scanning – Snyk, DevSkim, and nodejsscan integration (#590, #638, #639)
 - ✅ UI Improvements – Checkbox selection, better error messages, form fixes (#392, #619)
 - 📝 SPDX Compliance – Automated file header verification (#315, #317, #656)
 
🚨 Important Updates
- UI Enabled by Default – 
.env.examplenow setsMCPGATEWAY_UI_ENABLED=truefor easier onboarding - API Docs Authentication – New 
DOCS_BASIC_AUTH_ENABLEDflag for securing documentation endpoints - Enhanced Validation – Stricter rules for gateway URLs, tool names, and input parameters
 - Improved Scripts – Consolidated 
run-gunicorn.shwith better error handling (#397, #430) 
🆕 Added
Security & Authentication
- JWT Token Expiration (#425) – Mandatory expiration with 
REQUIRE_TOKEN_EXPIRATION=true - Masked Credentials (#601, #602) – Auth values hidden in gateway API responses
 - API Docs Auth (#663) – Basic authentication for 
/docswithDOCS_BASIC_AUTH_ENABLED - XSS Prevention (#576) – RPC method validation against injection attacks
 - SPDX Headers (#315, #317, #656) – Automated license compliance checking
 
Developer Experience
- 
File-Specific Linting (#410, #660):
make lint filename.py # Lint single file make lint dirname/ # Lint directory make lint-changed # Lint git changes
 - 
Enhanced Makefile (#365, #397, #507, #597):
.PHONYdeclarations for all targets- Prevented multiple server startups
 - Better formatting and organization
 - Consolidated scripts and improved readability
 
 - 
Test Tool Enhancements:
 
UI/UX Improvements
- Checkbox Selection (#392, #619) – Multi-select for servers, tools, resources
 - MCP Server Name Column (#506, #624) – Better visibility in global views
 - Connection String Export (#154) – One-click client configuration
 - Time Server Integration (#403, #637) – Added to docker-compose for testing
 - Error Message Clarity (#357, #363, #569, #629, #648) – Actionable validation feedback
 
Code Quality & Testing
- 
Security Scanners:
 - 
Web Linting (#390, #614) – CI/CD integration with jshint, jscpd, markuplint
 - 
Package Linters (#615, #616) – check-manifest and pyroma for PyPI compliance
 
🐛 Fixed
Critical Gateway Issues
- Gateway ID null in Create API (#521)
 - Duplicate registration bypass (#603, #649)
 - Silent update failures in UI (#630)
 - Invalid URL validation (#578)
 - STREAMABLEHTTP transport validation (#662)
 - GitHub MCP Server registration (#584)
 
Tool & Resource Handling
- REST tool update failures (#579)
 - Inconsistent tool name lengths (#631, #651)
 - Long input name reflection (#598)
 - Invalid "STREAMABLE" value (#610)
 - Edit forms not populating (#591, #633, #648)
 
Authentication & Security
🔄 Changed
Configuration Defaults
- UI Enabled – 
.env.examplesetsMCPGATEWAY_UI_ENABLED=true - Enhanced Validation – Stricter rules across all inputs
 - Better Scripts – Single 
run-gunicorn.shwith improved features 
Performance & Reliability
- Improved connection handling and timeouts
 - Better stateful session management
 - Enhanced resource cleanup
 
📦 Upgrade Instructions
- 
Update your package:
pip install --upgrade mcp-contextforge-gateway==0.5.0
 - 
Review new settings in
.env:cp .env.example .env # Check new DOCS_BASIC_AUTH_ENABLED setting - 
Run database migrations (automatic in Docker/Kubernetes):
make db-upgrade
 
🌟 Release Contributors
This release demonstrates strong community growth with 14 new contributors joining the project!
🏆 Top Contributors in 0.5.0
- Mihai Criveti (@crivetimihai) - Release coordinator, infrastructure, security
 - Madhav Kandukuri (@madhav165) - XSS prevention, validation, security fixes
 - Keval Mahajan (@kevalmahajan) - UI enhancements, test tool improvements
 - Manav Gupta - File-specific linting, Makefile improvements
 - Rakhi Dutta (@rakdutta) - Comprehensive error message improvements
 - Shoumi Mukherjee (@shoummu1) - Array parsing, tool fixes, UI improvements
 
🎉 New Contributors
- JimmyLiao - STREAMABLEHTTP transport validation
 - Arnav Bhattacharya - File header verification script
 - Guoqiang Ding - Tool parameter conversion, API docs auth
 - Pascal Roessner - MCP Gateway Name in tools overview
 - Kumar Tiger - Duplicate gateway name fix
 - Shamsul Arefin - JavaScript validation, UUID support
 - Emmanuel Ferdman - Prompt service test fixes
 - Tomas Pilar - Gateway response fixes, auth flags
 - ChrisPC-39 - UI enablement, tool search
 
💪 Returning Contributors
- Nayana R Gowda - Redundant expressions, formatting
 - Mohan Lakshmaiah - Tool name consistency
 - Abdul Samad - Continued UI polish
 - Satya - Gateway URL validation
 
🔗 Resources
- 📚 Docs: https://ibm.github.io/mcp-context-forge/
 - 🐳 Container: 
ghcr.io/ibm/mcp-context-forge:v0.5.0 - 🐍 PyPI: mcp-contextforge-gateway
 - 📈 Full changelog: Compare v0.4.0…v0.5.0