# ssh_connect

Open a persistent SSH session to a host.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `ssh_connect`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/ssh-connect

## Facts

- Tool: `ssh_connect`
- Server: SSH MCP Server (`bhayanak/ssh-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/bhayanak/ssh-mcp-server
- 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": "ssh_connect",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why ssh_connect is rated High

Opening a persistent SSH session gives the agent (and subsequent commands) full shell access to a remote Linux server. While the connection itself is not destructive, it is the gateway to arbitrary remote code execution, making Execute the appropriate category with high severity due to the broad blast radius of unrestricted remote access.

From the tool's own definition: "'Open a persistent SSH session to a host' — establishes an interactive remote shell connection"

## Use case

AI agents invoke ssh_connect to trigger actions in SSH MCP Server. 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 SSH MCP Server:

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

## Other tools on SSH MCP Server (22)

- `cancel_background_job` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/cancel-background-job.md
- `remove_ssh_key` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/remove-ssh-key.md
- `revoke_cert` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/revoke-cert.md
- `sftp_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/sftp-delete.md
- `approve_request` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/approve-request.md
- `request_approval` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/request-approval.md
- `run_ssh_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/run-ssh-command.md
- `run_ssh_command_background` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/run-ssh-command-background.md
- `get_audit_logs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/get-audit-logs.md
- `get_host_facts` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/get-host-facts.md
- `list_background_jobs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/list-background-jobs.md
- `list_hosts` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/list-hosts.md
- `list_pending_approvals` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/list-pending-approvals.md
- `list_templates` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/list-templates.md
- `poll_background_job` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/poll-background-job.md
- `sftp_list_directory` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/sftp-list-directory.md
- `ssh_list_sessions` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/ssh-list-sessions.md
- `ssh_session_ping` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/ssh-session-ping.md
- `add_ssh_key` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/add-ssh-key.md
- `issue_cert` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/issue-cert.md
- `ssh_disconnect` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/ssh-disconnect.md
- `transfer_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server/transfer-file.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`

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Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/bhayanak-ssh-mcp-server