AI agents invoke sam_init to trigger actions in CloudWatch Application Signals 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.
The name 'sam_init' strongly implies AWS SAM CLI initialization, which executes project scaffolding and file creation. However, the description is empty, so confidence is reduced. SAM init creates project structures and configuration files. Classified as Execute due to running an external operation, with high severity due to potential for creating infrastructure-as-code that could later deploy AWS resources.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'sam_init' suggests initializing an AWS SAM (Serverless Application Model) project, which executes scaffolding/code generation operations
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access sam_init gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for sam_init:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"sam_init": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "sam_init_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 10,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}sam_init stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
sam_init. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for sam_init: 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 CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server. Nothing to install.
sam_init is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the sam_init 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for sam_init. 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.
sam_init is provided by the CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server MCP server (awslabs.cloudwatch-applicationsignals-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
805 CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.