Low Risk

bulk_cve_lookup

Batch query multiple CVEs (up to 50 per call, same for Free and Pro): retrieve full CVE details for all in 1 request instead of N. By default each CVE's affected_products is truncated to the first 20 entries (total_products reports honest count) and references to the first 10 (total_references re...

Bulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets

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

AI agents call bulk_cve_lookup to retrieve information from ContrastAPI 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 bulk_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.

contrastcyber-contrastapi.yaml
tools:
  bulk_cve_lookup:
    rules:
      - action: allow

See the full ContrastAPI policy for all 53 tools.

Tool Name bulk_cve_lookup
Category Read
Risk Level Low

View all 53 tools →

Agents calling read-class tools like bulk_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 bulk_cve_lookup tool do? +

Batch query multiple CVEs (up to 50 per call, same for Free and Pro): retrieve full CVE details for all in 1 request instead of N. By default each CVE's affected_products is truncated to the first 20 entries (total_products reports honest count) and references to the first 10 (total_references reports honest count); pass include_affected_products=true / include_full_references=true to return full lists. Pass include_reference_tags=true to receive references_full=[{url, tags, source}] per CVE in the batch. Pass include_severity_breakdown=true to receive severity_sources/consensus/disagreement per CVE. Use for dependency audits or bulk vulnerability enrichment; use cve_lookup for single CVE. Each successful item carries next_calls — chain with kev_detail (when kev.in_kev=true), cwe_lookup (when cwe_id is present), or exploit_lookup. Free: 30/hr (1 per item), Pro: 500/hr. Returns {results, total, successful, failed, timed_out, partial, summary}.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the ContrastAPI MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on bulk_cve_lookup? +

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

What risk level is bulk_cve_lookup? +

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

Can I rate-limit bulk_cve_lookup? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the bulk_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 bulk_cve_lookup completely? +

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for bulk_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 bulk_cve_lookup? +

bulk_cve_lookup is provided by the ContrastAPI MCP server (contrastcyber/contrastapi). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Let agents act without letting them run wild.

Deterministic policy on every MCP tool call. Per-identity grants. Full audit log.

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