run_command

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/run-command.md

WHAT IT DOES

What run_command does on CoWork OS

AI agents invoke run_command 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 run_command is rated High

Arbitrary shell command execution allows running any code, programs, or operations with workspace-level access and potential privilege escalation.

From the tool's definition Execute a shell command in the workspace directory. Commands run within the active access profile.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs run_command 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 run_command, this is the rule to start with:

run_command Rate-limited

run_command 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": {
    "run_command": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "run_command_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 run_command call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about run_command

What does the run_command tool do? +

Execute a shell command in the workspace directory. IMPORTANT: Commands run within the active access profile. Additional authority is requested only when the operation requires it. If additional authority is needed, the request identifies that boundary. Use this for installing packages (npm, pip, brew), running build commands, git operations, or terminal commands. Do not use shell heredocs or echo/printf redirection to create artifact files when write_file or edit_file is available; use file tools for file creation and editing. 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 run_command? +

Register the CoWork OS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for run_command: 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 run_command? +

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

Can I rate-limit run_command? +

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

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

run_command 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

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Guides

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