# start_php_server

A execute tool on the Pentester-MCP MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `start_php_server`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/start-php-server

## Facts

- Tool: `start_php_server`
- Server: Pentester-MCP (`halilkirazkaya/pentester-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/halilkirazkaya/pentester-mcp
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

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

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "start_php_server",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why start_php_server is rated High

This tool starts a PHP web server, which executes arbitrary PHP code at runtime. While not inherently destructive, it enables execution of code and external operations—core characteristics of the Execute category. The high severity reflects that a misconfigured or malicious PHP server started by an AI agent could be exploited to compromise systems or host malicious payloads.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'start_php_server' combined with server context describing 'penetration testing tools' and 'web exploitation'; starting a PHP server is a code execution operation that launches an external service whose behavior depends on the runtime environment…"

## Use case

AI agents invoke start_php_server 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.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

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

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

## Other tools on Pentester-MCP (336)

- `dnscat_client` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/dnscat-client.md
- `execute_weevely_module` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/execute-weevely-module.md
- `generate_weevely_agent` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/generate-weevely-agent.md
- `identify_hash` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/identify-hash.md
- `john_prepare` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/john-prepare.md
- `launch_xsser_gui` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/launch-xsser-gui.md
- `manage_brew` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/manage-brew.md
- `manage_dirb_dictionaries` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/manage-dirb-dictionaries.md
- `manage_mounts` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/manage-mounts.md
- `manage_sliver_daemon` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/manage-sliver-daemon.md
- `manage_wpprobe` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/manage-wpprobe.md
- `monitor_fping` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/monitor-fping.md
- `objection_explore` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/objection-explore.md
- `objection_patch` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/objection-patch.md
- `run_403bypasser` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-403bypasser.md
- `run_addcomputer` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-addcomputer.md
- `run_aircrack_action` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-aircrack-action.md
- `run_aix` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-aix.md
- `run_alterx` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-alterx.md
- `run_amass` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-amass.md
- `run_apktool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-apktool.md
- `run_arachni` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-arachni.md
- `run_arjun` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-arjun.md
- `run_asnmap` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-asnmap.md
- `run_atexec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-atexec.md
- `run_autobloody` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-autobloody.md
- `run_autorecon` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-autorecon.md
- `run_awk` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-awk.md
- `run_bbot` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-bbot.md
- `run_binwalk` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp/run-binwalk.md
- …and 306 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/halilkirazkaya-pentester-mcp.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`

---

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