# ctf_steghide

Steganography analysis and extraction via steghide.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `ctf_steghide`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/ctf-steghide

## Facts

- Tool: `ctf_steghide`
- Server: Hercules MCP (`0xmihirk/hercules-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/0xMihirK/hercules-mcp
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "ctf_steghide",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why ctf_steghide is rated High

This tool runs steghide commands to extract hidden data from media files. While extraction itself doesn't destroy data, it executes external processes whose behavior depends on user-supplied arguments (target files). This is characteristic of Execute category tools.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool exposes steghide, an offensive security tool for steganography analysis and extraction. Steghide can extract hidden data from image and audio files, which constitutes execution of external commands with side effects dependent on the files being analyzed."

## Use case

AI agents invoke ctf_steghide to trigger actions in Hercules MCP. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call: builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Hercules MCP:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "ctf_steghide": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "ctf_steghide_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Hercules MCP (44)

- `browser_act` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/browser-act.md
- `browser_cmd` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/browser-cmd.md
- `browser_eval` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/browser-eval.md
- `browser_open` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/browser-open.md
- `browser_session` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/browser-session.md
- `browser_wait` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/browser-wait.md
- `bruteforce_hydra` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/bruteforce-hydra.md
- `crack_john` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/crack-john.md
- `ctf_binwalk` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/ctf-binwalk.md
- `fuzz_dirs` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/fuzz-dirs.md
- `metasploit_generate_payload` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/metasploit-generate-payload.md
- `metasploit_manage` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/metasploit-manage.md
- `metasploit_run_module` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/metasploit-run-module.md
- `metasploit_start_listener` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/metasploit-start-listener.md
- `ncat` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/ncat.md
- `network_curl` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/network-curl.md
- `network_hping3` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/network-hping3.md
- `nmap_run_nse_script` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/nmap-run-nse-script.md
- `nmap_scan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/nmap-scan.md
- `nmap_write_nse_script` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/nmap-write-nse-script.md
- `nuclei_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/nuclei-run.md
- `recon_amass` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/recon-amass.md
- `recon_dns` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/recon-dns.md
- `searchsploit` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/searchsploit.md
- `shell_exec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/shell-exec.md
- `shell_exec_background` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/shell-exec-background.md
- `shell_kill_job` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/shell-kill-job.md
- `sqlmap_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/sqlmap-run.md
- `system_start_new_session` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/system-start-new-session.md
- `system_stop_container` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp/system-stop-container.md
- …and 14 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=0xmihirk-hercules-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/0xmihirk-hercules-mcp