switch_profile

Swap the active ~/.claude.json with a saved profile. Auto-creates a backup of the previous active config. The user must restart Claude Code for the new config to take effect.

ServerClaude Code Toolkit
CategoryWrite

How to control switch_profile ↓

WHAT IT DOES

What switch_profile does on Claude Code Toolkit

AI agents use switch_profile to create or update resources in Claude Code Toolkit — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Claude Code Toolkit environment.

THE RISK

Medium Risk

Why switch_profile needs a policy

The tool modifies the active configuration file (~/.claude.json) by replacing it with a different profile. This is a reversible write operation since a backup is auto-created. While it affects system configuration that could influence Claude Code behavior, it does not irreversibly delete data (hence not Destructive), does not execute arbitrary code (hence not Execute), and does not move money (hence not Financial).

From the tool's definition Tool description states it will "Swap the active ~/.claude.json with a saved profile" and "Auto-creates a backup of the previous active config." This modifies configuration files and switches active profiles.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access switch_profile gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control switch_profile

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Claude Code Toolkit, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for switch_profile:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "switch_profile": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "switch_profile_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

switch_profile stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Claude Code Toolkit — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Claude Code Toolkit tools

Destructive cleanup_backups Delete old backup files to free up disk space. Destructive wipe_traces Securely wipe ALL Claude Code traces. Overwrites files with zeros before deletion. Require Destructive clean_claude_directory Analyze and clean the .claude directory. Removes debug logs, empty todos, old snapshots, a Destructive clean_traces Selectively clean Claude Code traces by category, age, or project. Destructive enforce_retention Apply data retention policy by deleting sessions older than specified days. Execute run_doctor Full integrity check: detects corrupted JSONL lines, truncated thinking blocks, oversized Execute run_maintenance Run maintenance checks on Claude Code installation. Identifies issues, old backups, and ar Execute start_dashboard Start the web dashboard on a local port. Returns the URL to open in a browser.

All 40 Claude Code Toolkit tools →

Write tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server download_torrent YouTube MCP Server generate_video_title Android Forensics ADB MCP Server combine_reports 0xarchive web3_signup

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Argument validation → Checking tool call arguments against schema and policy before they run.
Scoped token → Per-person credentials that grant a defined subset of servers and tools.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about switch_profile

What does the switch_profile tool do? +

Swap the active ~/.claude.json with a saved profile. Auto-creates a backup of the previous active config. The user must restart Claude Code for the new config to take effect. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Claude Code Toolkit MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on switch_profile? +

Register the Claude Code Toolkit MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for switch_profile: 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 Claude Code Toolkit. Nothing to install.

What risk level is switch_profile? +

switch_profile is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit switch_profile? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the switch_profile 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 switch_profile completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for switch_profile. 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 switch_profile? +

switch_profile is provided by the Claude Code Toolkit MCP server (asifkibria/claude-code-toolkit). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Claude Code Toolkit tool call.

Start from Claude Code Toolkit, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →

Free to start. No card required.

40 Claude Code Toolkit tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.