Low Risk

cve_lookup

Query detailed vulnerability information from Shodan's CVEDB. Returns comprehensive CVE details including CVSS scores (v2/v3), EPSS probability and ranking, KEV status, proposed mitigations, ransomware associations, and affected products (CPEs).

Part of the Shodan Server MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

AI agents call cve_lookup to retrieve information from Shodan Server without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.

Even though cve_lookup only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.

Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.

burtthecoder-mcp-shodan.yaml
tools:
  cve_lookup:
    rules:
      - action: allow

See the full Shodan Server policy for all 7 tools.

Tool Name cve_lookup
Category Read
Risk Level Low

Agents calling read-class tools like cve_lookup have been implicated in these attack patterns. Read the full case and prevention policy for each:

Browse the full MCP Attack Database →

Other tools in the Read risk category across the catalogue. The same policy patterns (rate-limit, allow) apply to each.

What does the cve_lookup tool do? +

Query detailed vulnerability information from Shodan's CVEDB. Returns comprehensive CVE details including CVSS scores (v2/v3), EPSS probability and ranking, KEV status, proposed mitigations, ransomware associations, and affected products (CPEs).. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Shodan Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on cve_lookup? +

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for cve_lookup. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the Shodan Server MCP server.

What risk level is cve_lookup? +

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

Can I rate-limit cve_lookup? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the cve_lookup rule in your Intercept 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 cve_lookup completely? +

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for cve_lookup. 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 cve_lookup? +

cve_lookup is provided by the Shodan Server MCP server (burtthecoder/mcp-shodan). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policies on Shodan Server

Open source. One binary. Zero dependencies.

npx -y @policylayer/intercept
github.com/policylayer/intercept →
// GET IN TOUCH

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