AI agents call scan_paths_builtin to retrieve information from Pentest Ai without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs reconnaissance by scanning for sensitive paths, which is a read/discovery operation. It retrieves information about accessible paths without modifying or destroying data. However, in a pentesting context, discovering sensitive paths could expose credentials or configuration files, giving it medium severity if misused against unauthorized targets.
From the tool's definition Scan for common sensitive paths (built-in)
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access scan_paths_builtin gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Pentest Ai, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for scan_paths_builtin:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"scan_paths_builtin": {}
}
}scan_paths_builtin is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Scan for common sensitive paths (built-in). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Pentest Ai MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Pentest Ai MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for scan_paths_builtin: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Pentest Ai. Nothing to install.
scan_paths_builtin is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the scan_paths_builtin rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for scan_paths_builtin. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
scan_paths_builtin is provided by the Pentest Ai MCP server (0xsteph/pentest-ai). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 51 Pentest Ai tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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51 Pentest Ai tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.