diff --git a/src/gitea_http_wrapper/middleware/__init__.py b/src/gitea_http_wrapper/middleware/__init__.py
index d0230af..a79c9f6 100644
--- a/src/gitea_http_wrapper/middleware/__init__.py
+++ b/src/gitea_http_wrapper/middleware/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 """HTTP authentication middleware module."""
 
-__all__ = []
+from .auth import BearerAuthMiddleware, HealthCheckBypassMiddleware
+
+__all__ = ["BearerAuthMiddleware", "HealthCheckBypassMiddleware"]
diff --git a/src/gitea_http_wrapper/middleware/auth.py b/src/gitea_http_wrapper/middleware/auth.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15870ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gitea_http_wrapper/middleware/auth.py
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+"""HTTP authentication middleware for MCP server."""
+
+import logging
+from typing import Awaitable, Callable
+
+from starlette.middleware.base import BaseHTTPMiddleware
+from starlette.requests import Request
+from starlette.responses import JSONResponse, Response
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class BearerAuthMiddleware(BaseHTTPMiddleware):
+    """
+    Middleware to enforce Bearer token authentication on HTTP requests.
+
+    This middleware validates the Authorization header for all requests.
+    If a token is configured, requests must include "Authorization: Bearer <token>".
+    If no token is configured, all requests are allowed (open access).
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, app, auth_token: str | None = None):
+        """
+        Initialize authentication middleware.
+
+        Args:
+            app: ASGI application to wrap.
+            auth_token: Optional Bearer token for authentication.
+                       If None, authentication is disabled.
+        """
+        super().__init__(app)
+        self.auth_token = auth_token
+        self.auth_enabled = auth_token is not None
+
+        if self.auth_enabled:
+            logger.info("Bearer authentication enabled")
+        else:
+            logger.warning("Bearer authentication disabled - server is open access")
+
+    async def dispatch(
+        self, request: Request, call_next: Callable[[Request], Awaitable[Response]]
+    ) -> Response:
+        """
+        Process request and enforce authentication if enabled.
+
+        Args:
+            request: Incoming HTTP request.
+            call_next: Next middleware or route handler.
+
+        Returns:
+            Response from downstream handler or 401/403 error.
+        """
+        # Skip authentication if disabled
+        if not self.auth_enabled:
+            return await call_next(request)
+
+        # Extract Authorization header
+        auth_header = request.headers.get("Authorization")
+
+        # Check if header is present
+        if not auth_header:
+            logger.warning(f"Missing Authorization header from {request.client.host}")
+            return JSONResponse(
+                status_code=401,
+                content={
+                    "error": "Unauthorized",
+                    "message": "Missing Authorization header",
+                },
+            )
+
+        # Check if header format is correct
+        if not auth_header.startswith("Bearer "):
+            logger.warning(f"Invalid Authorization format from {request.client.host}")
+            return JSONResponse(
+                status_code=401,
+                content={
+                    "error": "Unauthorized",
+                    "message": "Authorization header must use Bearer scheme",
+                },
+            )
+
+        # Extract token
+        provided_token = auth_header[7:]  # Remove "Bearer " prefix
+
+        # Validate token
+        if provided_token != self.auth_token:
+            logger.warning(f"Invalid token from {request.client.host}")
+            return JSONResponse(
+                status_code=403,
+                content={
+                    "error": "Forbidden",
+                    "message": "Invalid authentication token",
+                },
+            )
+
+        # Token is valid, proceed to next handler
+        logger.debug(f"Authenticated request from {request.client.host}")
+        return await call_next(request)
+
+
+class HealthCheckBypassMiddleware(BaseHTTPMiddleware):
+    """
+    Middleware to bypass authentication for health check endpoints.
+
+    This allows monitoring systems to check server health without authentication.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, app, health_check_paths: list[str] | None = None):
+        """
+        Initialize health check bypass middleware.
+
+        Args:
+            app: ASGI application to wrap.
+            health_check_paths: List of paths to bypass authentication.
+                               Defaults to ["/health", "/healthz", "/ping"].
+        """
+        super().__init__(app)
+        self.health_check_paths = health_check_paths or ["/health", "/healthz", "/ping"]
+
+    async def dispatch(
+        self, request: Request, call_next: Callable[[Request], Awaitable[Response]]
+    ) -> Response:
+        """
+        Process request and bypass authentication for health checks.
+
+        Args:
+            request: Incoming HTTP request.
+            call_next: Next middleware or route handler.
+
+        Returns:
+            Response from downstream handler.
+        """
+        # Check if request is for a health check endpoint
+        if request.url.path in self.health_check_paths:
+            logger.debug(f"Bypassing auth for health check: {request.url.path}")
+            # Skip remaining middleware chain for health checks
+            return await call_next(request)
+
+        # Not a health check, continue to next middleware
+        return await call_next(request)