# waf_manage

WAF: ModSecurity audit, rule management, rate limiting, OWASP CRS, blocked request analysis

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `waf_manage`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/waf-manage

## Facts

- Tool: `waf_manage`
- Server: Defense (`defense-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense.md
- Install: `npx -y defense-mcp-server`
- Homepage: git+https://github.com/bottobot/defense-mcp-server.git
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 8 (1 required)
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `action` | string | yes | WAF management action |
| `rule_id` | string | no | ModSecurity rule ID |
| `log_path` | string | no | Path to WAF log file |
| `rate_limit` | number | no | Requests per second for rate limiting |
| `web_server` | string | no | Web server type |
| `rule_action` | string | no | Rule sub-action |
| `output_format` | string | no | Output format |
| `rate_limit_zone` | string | no | Zone name for rate limiting |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "waf_manage",
    "arguments": {
      "action": "<action>"
    }
  }
}
```

## Why waf_manage is rated High

This tool manages Web Application Firewall rules and configurations, which includes modifying active security rules, adjusting rate limits, and controlling what traffic gets blocked. These are live security control operations that can affect system-wide traffic filtering. Misuse could disable protections or create security gaps, making this Execute (with Write aspects) at high severity.

From the tool's own definition: "WAF: ModSecurity audit, rule management, rate limiting, OWASP CRS, blocked request analysis"

## Use case

AI agents invoke waf_manage to trigger actions in Defense. 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.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Defense:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "waf_manage": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "waf_manage_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Defense (30)

- `app_harden` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/app-harden.md
- `container_isolation` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/container-isolation.md
- `crypto` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/crypto.md
- `ebpf` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/ebpf.md
- `firewall` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/firewall.md
- `harden_kernel` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/harden-kernel.md
- `honeypot_manage` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/honeypot-manage.md
- `incident_response` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/incident-response.md
- `malware` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/malware.md
- `sudo_session` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/sudo-session.md
- `vuln_manage` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/vuln-manage.md
- `wireless_security` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/wireless-security.md
- `zero_trust` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/zero-trust.md
- `api_security` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/api-security.md
- `cloud_security` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/cloud-security.md
- `dns_security` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/dns-security.md
- `secrets` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/secrets.md
- `access_control` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/access-control.md
- `backup` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/backup.md
- `compliance` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/compliance.md
- `container_docker` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/container-docker.md
- `defense_mgmt` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/defense-mgmt.md
- `harden_host` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/harden-host.md
- `integrity` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/integrity.md
- `log_management` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/log-management.md
- `network_defense` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/network-defense.md
- `patch` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/patch.md
- `process_security` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/process-security.md
- `supply_chain` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/supply-chain.md
- `threat_intel` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/defense/threat-intel.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

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Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=defense · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/defense