# start_scan

A execute tool on the Hospital Vuln Scanner MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `start_scan`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/start-scan

## Facts

- Tool: `start_scan`
- Server: Hospital Vuln Scanner (`12211725-star/hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/12211725-star/hospital-vuln-scanner-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": "start_scan",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why start_scan is rated High

This tool triggers execution of security scans against medical information systems. Security scanning tools execute external operations (port scanning, vulnerability probes) whose effects depend on configuration arguments and network topology. While not destructive per se, scans can impact system performance and the scanning activity itself is an executed operation on external targets.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool named 'start_scan' on a 'security scanning MCP server' that supports 'port scanning, vulnerability detection' and related operations."

## Use case

AI agents invoke start_scan to trigger actions in Hospital Vuln Scanner. 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 Hospital Vuln Scanner:

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

## Other tools on Hospital Vuln Scanner (13)

- `cancel_scan` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/cancel-scan.md
- `discover_network` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/discover-network.md
- `scan_host_ports` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/scan-host-ports.md
- `get_scan_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/get-scan-status.md
- `get_system_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/get-system-status.md
- `get_vuln_stats` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/get-vuln-stats.md
- `get_vulnerability` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/get-vulnerability.md
- `identify_medical_systems` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/identify-medical-systems.md
- `list_reports` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/list-reports.md
- `list_scans` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/list-scans.md
- `list_vulnerabilities` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/list-vulnerabilities.md
- `generate_report` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/generate-report.md
- `update_vulnerability_status` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp/update-vulnerability-status.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=12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/12211725-star-hospital-vuln-scanner-mcp