# start_responder

A execute tool on the Pentester-MCP MCP server.

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

## Facts

- Tool: `start_responder`
- 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_responder",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why start_responder is rated High

Responder triggers active network attacks and credential capture operations whose effects depend on network configuration and target arguments. This is Execute rather than Destructive because while it may cause network disruption or credential exposure, its primary function is to run and trigger an external tool's operations.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'start_responder' on a penetration testing server that executes 'over 200 open-source penetration testing tools' including 'reconnaissance, web exploitation, and brute-forcing.' Responder is a well-known network exploitation tool that captures…"

## Use case

AI agents invoke start_responder 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_responder": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "start_responder_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