scan_ports_builtin

Scan common ports on a target (built-in, no nmap required).

SERVERPentest Ai SOURCE0xsteph/pentest-ai

High RISK CLASS

Category Execute

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/scan-ports-builtin.md

WHAT IT DOES

What scan_ports_builtin does on Pentest Ai

AI agents invoke scan_ports_builtin to trigger actions in Pentest Ai. 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.

RISK

Why scan_ports_builtin is rated High

Port scanning sends network packets to an external target to discover open ports. This is an active operation with real external effects (triggering IDS/IPS, generating network traffic to third-party systems), making it Execute. Misuse against unauthorized targets could have legal and operational consequences, hence medium severity.

From the tool's definition "Scan common ports on a target" — actively probes a remote host's network ports

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs scan_ports_builtin safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Pentest Ai, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For scan_ports_builtin, this is the rule to start with:

scan_ports_builtin Rate-limited

scan_ports_builtin stays usable, but rate-capped: a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "scan_ports_builtin": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "scan_ports_builtin_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Pentest Ai, apply this rule, and every scan_ports_builtin call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about scan_ports_builtin

What does the scan_ports_builtin tool do? +

Scan common ports on a target (built-in, no nmap required). It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Pentest Ai MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on scan_ports_builtin? +

Register the Pentest Ai MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for scan_ports_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.

What risk level is scan_ports_builtin? +

scan_ports_builtin is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit scan_ports_builtin? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the scan_ports_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.

How do I block scan_ports_builtin completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for scan_ports_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.

What MCP server provides scan_ports_builtin? +

scan_ports_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.

KEEP EXPLORING

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