// SCAN REPORT

SSH MCP Server

21 tools. 7 can modify or destroy data without limits.

2 destructive tools with no built-in limits. Policy required.

Last updated: 29 Jun 2026

7 can modify or destroy data

14 read-only

21 tools total

Community server · catalogue entry verified 29/06/2026

How to control SSH MCP Server ↓

TOOL MAP

What SSH MCP Server exposes to your agents

Read (14) Write / Execute (5) Destructive / Financial (2)

Running more than one server? Check your whole stack →

MOST DANGEROUS TOOLS

Critical Risk

The most dangerous SSH MCP Server tools

Destructive · High ssh_delete Delete a file or empty directory on a remote host via SFTP. Auto-detects the path type and calls the right SFTP op (unlink for files/symlink Destructive · High ssh_known_hosts_fix Remove a stale host key from known_hosts and re-scan the host to add the current key. Use this when you see Execute · Medium ssh_exec Execute a command on a remote host via SSH. The command is interpreted by the remote login shell — pipes, redirects, globs, and other shell Execute · Medium ssh_multi_exec Execute a command on multiple remote hosts in parallel. Returns results per host. Use this instead of calling ssh_exec multiple times — it

7 of SSH MCP Server's 21 tools can modify, destroy, or commit something on every call — and an agent calls them with no built-in limits.

POLICY

How to control SSH MCP Server

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and SSH MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. These are the rules we recommend:

Deny destructive operations

{
  "ssh_delete": {
    "deny_if": [
      {
        "conditions": [],
        "on_deny": "Blocked by default. Requires approval."
      }
    ]
  }
}

Destructive tools should never be available to autonomous agents without human approval.

Rate limit write operations

{
  "ssh_mkdir": {
    "limits": [
      {
        "counter": "ssh_mkdir_per_hour",
        "window": "hour",
        "max": 30,
        "scope": "grant"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Prevents bulk unintended modifications from agents caught in loops.

Cap read operations

{
  "ssh_agent_ensure": {
    "limits": [
      {
        "counter": "ssh_agent_ensure_per_minute",
        "window": "minute",
        "max": 60,
        "scope": "grant"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Controls API costs and prevents retry loops from exhausting upstream rate limits.

Create a free account and register SSH MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add these rules — paste them, or build them visually. Tune the limits to your setup.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

ENFORCE POLICY ON SSH →

Instant setup, no code required.

FULL CATALOGUE

All 21 SSH MCP Server tools

DESTRUCTIVE 2 tools

Destructive ssh_delete Delete a file or empty directory on a remote host via SFTP. Auto-detects the path type and calls the right SFT Destructive ssh_known_hosts_fix Remove a stale host key from known_hosts and re-scan the host to add the current key. Use this when you see

EXECUTE 2 tools

Execute ssh_exec Execute a command on a remote host via SSH. The command is interpreted by the remote login shell — pipes, redi Execute ssh_multi_exec Execute a command on multiple remote hosts in parallel. Returns results per host. Use this instead of calling

WRITE 3 tools

Write ssh_mkdir Create a directory on a remote host via SFTP. Set Write ssh_upload Upload a local file to a remote host via SFTP. Write ssh_write_file Write content to a file on a remote host via SFTP. Creates or overwrites the file.

READ 14 tools

Read ssh_agent_ensure Ensure ssh-agent is running and reachable. Starts a new agent if needed and sets environment variables so subs Read ssh_config_lookup Resolve the effective SSH configuration for a host. Shows hostname, user, port, identity files, proxy settings Read ssh_diagnose Diagnose SSH connectivity issues. Checks ssh-agent status, loaded keys, known_hosts, SSH config, and attempts Read ssh_download Download a file from a remote host to local filesystem via SFTP. Read ssh_find Search for files on a remote host. Wraps the find command with structured parameters so you don Read ssh_git_check Test Git-over-SSH authentication to a hosting provider (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, etc). Verifies your SSH key Read ssh_key_list List all SSH private keys in ~/.ssh/ with their type, fingerprint, and whether they are loaded in the agent. U Read ssh_key_load Load an SSH private key into the running agent. Ensures the agent is running first. Use this after ssh_key_lis Read ssh_ls List files in a directory on a remote host via SFTP. Read ssh_read_file Read a file from a remote host via SFTP. Read ssh_service_status Check the status of a systemd service on a remote host. Returns whether it Read ssh_stat Get metadata for a file or directory on a remote host via SFTP. Returns size, permissions (octal), uid/gid, mt Read ssh_tail Read the last N lines of a file on a remote host, optionally filtering by a grep pattern. Use this for reading Read ssh_test Quick connectivity test to an SSH host. Reports success/failure with timing and actionable error details. Ligh

EXPLORE

Related servers

Other MCP servers with similar tools — same risk classification, starter policies for each.

FAQ

Questions about SSH MCP Server

Can an AI agent delete data through the SSH MCP Server MCP server? +

Yes. The SSH MCP Server server exposes 2 destructive tools including ssh_delete, ssh_known_hosts_fix. These permanently remove resources with no undo. PolicyLayer blocks destructive tools by default so they never reach the upstream server.

How do I prevent bulk modifications through SSH MCP Server? +

The SSH MCP Server server has 3 write tools including ssh_mkdir, ssh_upload, ssh_write_file. Set a rate limit in your policy -- for example, 10 calls per hour prevents an agent from making more than 10 modifications per hour. PolicyLayer enforces this at the gateway, before calls reach SSH MCP Server.

How many tools does the SSH MCP Server MCP server expose? +

21 tools across 4 categories: Destructive, Execute, Read, Write. 14 are read-only. 7 can modify, create, or delete data.

How do I enforce a policy on SSH MCP Server? +

Register the SSH MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer, apply the suggested rules above (adjust the limits to your use case), and point your AI client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL instead of the server directly. Your agents keep the same tools; PolicyLayer evaluates every call against policy before it executes. Nothing to install, live in minutes.

Enforce policy on every SSH MCP Server tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 21 SSH MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

ENFORCE POLICY ON SSH →

Instant setup, no code required.

21 SSH MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.