# traceroute

Trace the network path to a host. max_hops: 1-64. timeout: overall timeout in seconds. wait: per-hop probe wait time in seconds (1-10, default 2; increase to 5-10 for high-latency satellite/VPN links).

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `traceroute`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/traceroute

## Facts

- Tool: `traceroute`
- Server: Mcp Nettools (`aaronckj/mcp-nettools`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/aaronckj/mcp-nettools
- 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": "traceroute",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why traceroute is rated High

Traceroute is an active network diagnostic that executes ICMP/UDP/TCP probes against external hosts. It falls under Execute because it triggers real external network operations rather than merely reading static data. Misuse could involve probing internal network topology, mapping infrastructure, or causing unintended network traffic; hence medium severity.

From the tool's own definition: "'Trace the network path to a host' — traceroute actively sends network probes across multiple hops, triggering external network operations whose effects depend on arguments (target host, max_hops, timeout, wait)."

## Use case

AI agents invoke traceroute to trigger actions in Mcp Nettools. 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 Mcp Nettools:

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

## Other tools on Mcp Nettools (234)

- `http_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/http-delete.md
- `check_mqtt` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-mqtt.md
- `check_rdp` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-rdp.md
- `http_post` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/http-post.md
- `ping` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/ping.md
- `port_scan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/port-scan.md
- `speedtest` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/speedtest.md
- `wake_on_lan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/wake-on-lan.md
- `arp_table` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/arp-table.md
- `bgp_lookup` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/bgp-lookup.md
- `cert_check` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/cert-check.md
- `cert_check_bulk` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/cert-check-bulk.md
- `check_actual_budget` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-actual-budget.md
- `check_adguard` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-adguard.md
- `check_alertmanager` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-alertmanager.md
- `check_anythingllm` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-anythingllm.md
- `check_appwrite` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-appwrite.md
- `check_archivebox` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-archivebox.md
- `check_audiobookshelf` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-audiobookshelf.md
- `check_authelia` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-authelia.md
- `check_authentik` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-authentik.md
- `check_baikal` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-baikal.md
- `check_bazarr` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-bazarr.md
- `check_beszel` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-beszel.md
- `check_bitwarden` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-bitwarden.md
- `check_bookstack` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-bookstack.md
- `check_calibre_web` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-calibre-web.md
- `check_cassandra` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-cassandra.md
- `check_changedetection` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-changedetection.md
- `check_checkmk` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools/check-checkmk.md
- …and 204 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/aaronckj-mcp-nettools.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=aaronckj-mcp-nettools · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/aaronckj-mcp-nettools