keypress

Send a key or key chord to the current controlled window. Modifier keys: cmd/command on macOS, win/windows on Windows, ctrl/control, alt/option, shift. Returns a fresh screenshot.

SERVERCoWork OS SOURCECoWork-OS/CoWork-OS

High RISK CLASS

Category Execute

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/cowork-os/keypress.md

WHAT IT DOES

What keypress does on CoWork OS

AI agents invoke keypress to trigger actions in CoWork OS. 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.

RISK

Why keypress is rated High

This tool sends keyboard input to a controlled window, which can trigger arbitrary actions in any application (file operations, commands, UI interactions). Combined with other tools in an agentic OS context, it can be used to execute commands, delete files, or perform privileged actions.

From the tool's definition Send a key or key chord to the current controlled window... Returns a fresh screenshot

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs keypress safely

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

keypress Rate-limited

keypress 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "keypress": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "keypress_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect CoWork OS, apply this rule, and every keypress call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about keypress

What does the keypress tool do? +

Send a key or key chord to the current controlled window. Modifier keys: cmd/command on macOS, win/windows on Windows, ctrl/control, alt/option, shift. Returns a fresh screenshot. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the CoWork OS MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on keypress? +

Register the CoWork OS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for keypress: 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 CoWork OS. Nothing to install.

What risk level is keypress? +

keypress is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit keypress? +

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

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

keypress is provided by the CoWork OS MCP server (CoWork-OS/CoWork-OS). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

KEEP EXPLORING

More on CoWork OS, and thousands of servers like it.

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Guides

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