AI agents invoke run_php to trigger actions in Pentester-MCP. 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.
run_php executes arbitrary PHP code, which is an Execute category action. Without guardrails on what PHP code can be run, a compromised or misdirected AI agent could execute malicious scripts, access files, or pivot attacks. Severity is high because PHP execution on a web server can compromise systems, but not critical because the tool operates within Docker sandboxing (per server description).
From the tool's definition Tool named 'run_php' on Pentester-MCP server; server description explicitly states it 'enables AI assistants to autonomously execute over 200 open-source penetration testing tools' and includes 'web exploitation' capabilities.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access run_php gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Pentester-MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for run_php:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"run_php": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "run_php_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 10,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}run_php 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.
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run_php. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Pentester-MCP MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the Pentester- MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for run_php: 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 Pentester-MCP. Nothing to install.
run_php 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 run_php 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 run_php. 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.
run_php is provided by the Pentester- MCP server (halilkirazkaya/pentester-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Pentester-MCP, 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.
337 Pentester-MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.