Canvas MCP Server

by dmontgomery40

30 494 downloads Not rated yet

GitHub Website

About

An MCP server for Canvas LMS, providing full functionality for both students and instructors.

Details

Repository: DMontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms

Explore

- Student features: course management, assignment submission, grade tracking.
-

Setting up with Highlight

This MCP is not yet compatible with Highlight’s one-click setup. However, you can still use it with Highlight by following these steps:

Download and install Highlight from highlightai.com/download
Navigate to the plugins tab and select "Add Custom Plugin"
Configure the plugin with the settings below
Plugin Name Canvas MCP Server

Command (node, npx, python, etc.) npx
Arguments
- Argument 1 -y
- Argument 2 canvas-mcp-server
Environment
- CANVAS_DOMAIN your_school.instructure.com
- CANVAS_API_TOKEN your_token_here
Please refer to the README for specific instructions on how to obtain API keys or other required environment variables.
Enable "Start Automatically" if you want the plugin to start when Highlight launches

Setting up with Cursor

Open Cursor's settings
Navigate to the MCP section
Click "Add new Global MCP server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/c",
                "npx",
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "cmd"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Claude Desktop

Open Claude Desktop's settings
Go to the Integrations tab
Click "Add MCP Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure Claude Desktop is running before attempting to connect.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/c",
                "npx",
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "cmd"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Windsurf

Open Windsurf's preferences
Go to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Integration"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/c",
                "npx",
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "cmd"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Cline

Open Cline's settings
Navigate to the Integrations section
Click "Add MCP Server"
Copy and paste the configuration below based on your operating system

Note: Make sure to restart Cline after adding the configuration.

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/c",
                "npx",
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "cmd"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Setting up with Goose

Open Goose's preferences
Go to the Integrations tab
Select "MCP Servers"
Click "Add New Server"
Use the configuration below based on your operating system

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "/c",
                "npx",
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "cmd"
        }
    }
}

JSON

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

From the repository

export CANVAS_API_TOKEN="your_token_here"
export CANVAS_DOMAIN="your_school.instructure.com"

Add to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canvas-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "canvas-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
        "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

npm install -g canvas-mcp-server

1. Log into Canvas → Account → Settings 2. Scroll to "Approved Integrations" 3. Click "+ New Access Token" 4. Enter description: "Claude MCP Integration" 5. Copy the generated token Save securely! ⚠️ Account Admin Note: For account-level operations, ensure your API token has administrative privileges. git clone https://github.com/DMontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms.git cd mcp-canvas-lms npm install

bash
git clone https://github.com/DMontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms.git
cd mcp-canvas-lms
npm install
npm run dev:watch

For lower-noise, repeatable MCP usage, start with codemode-oriented routing:
- codemode-mcp (jx-codes)
- UTCP

Even with strong setup, model behavior can be hit-or-miss across providers and versions. Keep retries and deterministic fallbacks.

`canvas_health_check`

Check API connectivity.

`canvas_list_courses`

List all your courses.

`canvas_get_course`

Get detailed course info.

`canvas_list_assignments`

List course assignments.

`canvas_get_assignment`

Get assignment details.

`canvas_submit_assignment`

Submit assignment work.

`canvas_get_submission`

Check submission status.

`canvas_list_modules`

List course modules.

`canvas_get_module`

Get module details.

`canvas_list_module_items`

List items in a module.

`canvas_mark_module_item_complete`

Mark items complete.

`canvas_list_discussion_topics`

List discussion topics.

`canvas_get_discussion_topic`

Get discussion details.

`canvas_post_to_discussion`

Post to discussions.

`canvas_list_announcements`

List course announcements.

`canvas_get_user_grades`

Get your grades.

`canvas_get_course_grades`

Get course-specific grades.

`canvas_get_dashboard`

Get dashboard info.

`canvas_get_dashboard_cards`

Get course cards.

`canvas_get_upcoming_assignments`

Get due dates.

`canvas_list_calendar_events`

List calendar events.

`canvas_list_files`

List course files.

`canvas_get_file`

Get file details.

`canvas_list_folders`

List course folders.

`canvas_list_pages`

List course pages.

`canvas_get_page`

Get page content.

`canvas_list_conversations`

List messages.

`canvas_get_conversation`

Get conversation details.

`canvas_create_conversation`

Send messages.

`canvas_list_notifications`

List notifications.

`canvas_get_syllabus`

Get course syllabus.

`canvas_get_user_profile`

Get user profile.

`canvas_update_user_profile`

Update profile.

`canvas_create_course`

Create new courses.

`canvas_update_course`

Update course settings.

`canvas_create_assignment`

Create assignments.

`canvas_update_assignment`

Update assignments.

`canvas_list_assignment_groups`

List assignment groups.

`canvas_submit_grade`

Grade submissions.

`canvas_enroll_user`

Enroll students.

`canvas_list_quizzes`

List course quizzes.

`canvas_get_quiz`

Get quiz details.

`canvas_create_quiz`

Create quizzes.

`canvas_start_quiz_attempt`

Start quiz attempts.

`canvas_list_rubrics`

List course rubrics.

`canvas_get_rubric`

Get rubric details.

`canvas_get_account`

Get account details.

`canvas_list_account_courses`

List courses in an account.

`canvas_list_account_users`

List users in an account.

`canvas_create_user`

Create new users in accounts.

`canvas_list_sub_accounts`

List sub-accounts.

`canvas_get_account_reports`

List available reports.

`canvas_create_account_report`

Generate account reports.

<details>
<summary>🎓 Core Student Tools (Click to expand)</summary>

- canvas_health_check - Check API connectivity
- canvas_list_courses - List all your courses
- canvas_get_course - Get detailed course info
- canvas_list_assignments - List course assignments
- canvas_get_assignment - Get assignment details
- canvas_submit_assignment - Submit assignment work
- canvas_get_submission - Check submission status
- canvas_list_modules - List course modules
- canvas_get_module - Get module details
- canvas_list_module_items - List items in a module
- canvas_mark_module_item_complete - Mark items complete
- canvas_list_discussion_topics - List discussion topics
- canvas_get_discussion_topic - Get discussion details
- canvas_post_to_discussion - Post to discussions
- canvas_list_announcements - List course announcements
- canvas_get_user_grades - Get your grades
- canvas_get_course_grades - Get course-specific grades
- canvas_get_dashboard - Get dashboard info
- canvas_get_dashboard_cards - Get course cards
- canvas_get_upcoming_assignments - Get due dates
- canvas_list_calendar_events - List calendar events
- canvas_list_files - List course files
- canvas_get_file - Get file details
- canvas_list_folders - List course folders
- canvas_list_pages - List course pages
- canvas_get_page - Get page content
- canvas_list_conversations - List messages
- canvas_get_conversation - Get conversation details
- canvas_create_conversation - Send messages
- canvas_list_notifications - List notifications
- canvas_get_syllabus - Get course syllabus
- canvas_get_user_profile - Get user profile
- canvas_update_user_profile - Update profile

</details>

<details>
<summary>👨‍🏫 Instructor Tools (Click to expand)</summary>

- canvas_create_course - Create new courses (FIXED: now requires account_id)
- canvas_update_course - Update course settings
- canvas_create_assignment - Create assignments
- canvas_update_assignment - Update assignments
- canvas_list_assignment_groups - List assignment groups
- canvas_submit_grade - Grade submissions
- canvas_enroll_user - Enroll students
- canvas_list_quizzes - List course quizzes
- canvas_get_quiz - Get quiz details
- canvas_create_quiz - Create quizzes
- canvas_start_quiz_attempt - Start quiz attempts
- canvas_list_rubrics - List course rubrics
- canvas_get_rubric - Get rubric details

</details>

<details>
<summary>👨‍💼 Account Management Tools (NEW!)</summary>

- canvas_get_account - Get account details
- canvas_list_account_courses - List courses in an account
- canvas_list_account_users - List users in an account
- canvas_create_user - Create new users in accounts
- canvas_list_sub_accounts - List sub-accounts
- canvas_get_account_reports - List available reports
- canvas_create_account_report - Generate account reports

</details>

Claude Desktop / Cursor

Paste into your MCP client config file to install this server.

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvas mcp server": {
            "env": {
                "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
                "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
            },
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvas-mcp-server"
            ],
            "command": "npx"
        }
    }
}

Linux

{
    "env": {
        "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
    },
    "args": [
        "-y",
        "canvas-mcp-server"
    ],
    "command": "npx"
}

Macos

{
    "env": {
        "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
    },
    "args": [
        "-y",
        "canvas-mcp-server"
    ],
    "command": "npx"
}

Windows

{
    "env": {
        "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com",
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
    },
    "args": [
        "/c",
        "npx",
        "-y",
        "canvas-mcp-server"
    ],
    "command": "cmd"
}

Security and disclosure history

This project is an independent MCP server for Canvas LMS APIs. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or maintained by Instructure or Canvas.

In June 2025, during development of this MCP, I identified a Broken Access Control issue in the Canvas environment at bootcampspot.instructure.com. The issue exposed personally identifiable information for other students enrolled in my course.

I reported the issue through Bugcrowd on June 5, 2025, and also contacted Instructure / Canvas security channels directly. The Bugcrowd report was later closed as "Not Applicable." In subsequent correspondence, Instructure stated that the bootcampspot.instructure.com environment was outside its control.

Public references:

- Disclosure thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/cybersecurity/comments/1t6wmkw/reported_a_broken_access_control_bug_to/
- Bugcrowd activity timeline: https://imgur.com/gallery/canvas-vuln-declared-n-11-months-ago-zYfHnBs
- Later Instructure / BootcampSpot correspondence: https://imgur.com/a/BnhgXme

This repository does not publish exploit steps, affected tenant details beyond what is already public, live URLs, screenshots containing student data, or proof-of-concept abuse flows.

Separately, Instructure publicly disclosed a Canvas security incident in May 2026, and public reporting has linked the incident to ShinyHunters claims. This repository makes no claim that the June 2025 report caused, enabled, predicted, or is technically connected to the May 2026 incident.

This disclosure is documented here for project history and transparency only.

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About

Details

Explore

Setting up with Highlight

From the repository

canvas_health_check

canvas_list_courses

canvas_get_course

canvas_list_assignments

canvas_get_assignment

canvas_submit_assignment

canvas_get_submission

canvas_list_modules

canvas_get_module

canvas_list_module_items

canvas_mark_module_item_complete

canvas_list_discussion_topics

canvas_get_discussion_topic

canvas_post_to_discussion

canvas_list_announcements

canvas_get_user_grades

canvas_get_course_grades

canvas_get_dashboard

canvas_get_dashboard_cards

canvas_get_upcoming_assignments

canvas_list_calendar_events

canvas_list_files

canvas_get_file

canvas_list_folders

canvas_list_pages

canvas_get_page

canvas_list_conversations

canvas_get_conversation

canvas_create_conversation

canvas_list_notifications

canvas_get_syllabus

canvas_get_user_profile

canvas_update_user_profile

canvas_create_course

canvas_update_course

canvas_create_assignment

canvas_update_assignment

canvas_list_assignment_groups

canvas_submit_grade

canvas_enroll_user

canvas_list_quizzes

canvas_get_quiz

canvas_create_quiz

canvas_start_quiz_attempt

canvas_list_rubrics

canvas_get_rubric

canvas_get_account

canvas_list_account_courses

canvas_list_account_users

canvas_create_user

canvas_list_sub_accounts

canvas_get_account_reports

canvas_create_account_report

Claude Desktop / Cursor

Linux

Macos

Windows

Security and disclosure history

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More like this

Time

Sentry

Github

Git

`canvas_health_check`

`canvas_list_courses`

`canvas_get_course`

`canvas_list_assignments`

`canvas_get_assignment`

`canvas_submit_assignment`

`canvas_get_submission`

`canvas_list_modules`

`canvas_get_module`

`canvas_list_module_items`

`canvas_mark_module_item_complete`

`canvas_list_discussion_topics`

`canvas_get_discussion_topic`

`canvas_post_to_discussion`

`canvas_list_announcements`

`canvas_get_user_grades`

`canvas_get_course_grades`

`canvas_get_dashboard`

`canvas_get_dashboard_cards`

`canvas_get_upcoming_assignments`

`canvas_list_calendar_events`

`canvas_list_files`

`canvas_get_file`

`canvas_list_folders`

`canvas_list_pages`

`canvas_get_page`

`canvas_list_conversations`

`canvas_get_conversation`

`canvas_create_conversation`

`canvas_list_notifications`

`canvas_get_syllabus`

`canvas_get_user_profile`

`canvas_update_user_profile`

`canvas_create_course`

`canvas_update_course`

`canvas_create_assignment`

`canvas_update_assignment`

`canvas_list_assignment_groups`

`canvas_submit_grade`

`canvas_enroll_user`

`canvas_list_quizzes`

`canvas_get_quiz`

`canvas_create_quiz`

`canvas_start_quiz_attempt`

`canvas_list_rubrics`

`canvas_get_rubric`

`canvas_get_account`

`canvas_list_account_courses`

`canvas_list_account_users`

`canvas_create_user`

`canvas_list_sub_accounts`

`canvas_get_account_reports`

`canvas_create_account_report`