list_hosts

List all allowed SSH hosts with metadata (labels, roles, description).

SERVERSSH MCP Server SOURCEbhayanak/ssh-mcp-server

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/list-hosts.md

WHAT IT DOES

What list_hosts does on SSH MCP Server

AI agents call list_hosts to retrieve information from SSH MCP Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

RISK

Why list_hosts is rated Low

This tool retrieves and enumerates SSH host metadata (labels, roles, descriptions) with no side effects. It is purely informational—no data is created, modified, deleted, or executed. While it may expose organizational infrastructure details, the read-only nature and low blast radius from misuse classify it as Read/low severity.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_hosts' and description 'List all allowed SSH hosts with metadata' indicate a query operation that retrieves information without modification or execution.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs list_hosts safely

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

list_hosts Allowed

list_hosts is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_hosts": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect SSH MCP Server, apply this rule, and every list_hosts call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about list_hosts

What does the list_hosts tool do? +

List all allowed SSH hosts with metadata (labels, roles, description). It is categorised as a Read tool in the SSH MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_hosts? +

Register the SSH MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_hosts: 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 SSH MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_hosts? +

list_hosts is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit list_hosts? +

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

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

list_hosts is provided by the SSH MCP Server MCP server (bhayanak/ssh-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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