configure_runtime

THE RISK

Medium Risk

Why configure_runtime needs a policy

This tool modifies live runtime configuration of the MCP server (overriding values in memory/state), which is a write/modify operation. It does not appear to delete data, but changing runtime configuration can have broad impact on server behavior — including potentially disabling anti-bot protections, altering scraping targets, or changing authentication settings — making misuse high severity.

From the tool's definition Apply runtime override values without restarting the MCP server

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access configure_runtime gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control configure_runtime

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Web Scraper, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for configure_runtime:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "configure_runtime": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "configure_runtime_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

configure_runtime stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Web Scraper — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Web Scraper tools

Destructive clear_cache Clear the response cache. Use when cached data may be stale. Destructive clear_history Clear scraping history. Destructive clear_host_profile Delete one host profile record from the profile store. Destructive clear_session Clear a browser session (cookies, storage). Use for fresh starts. Execute cancel_job Cancel a running async job. Execute browser_evaluate Run a JavaScript expression on the current page and return the result. Execute browser_navigate Navigate the interactive browser to a URL. Execute browser_solve_challenge Explicitly trigger challenge detection and solving on the current page.

All 62 Web Scraper tools →

Write tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server download_torrent YouTube MCP Server generate_video_title Android Forensics ADB MCP Server combine_reports 0xarchive web3_signup

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Argument validation → Checking tool call arguments against schema and policy before they run.
Scoped token → Per-person credentials that grant a defined subset of servers and tools.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about configure_runtime

What does the configure_runtime tool do? +

Apply runtime override values without restarting the MCP server. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Web Scraper MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on configure_runtime? +

Register the Web Scraper MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for configure_runtime: 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 Web Scraper. Nothing to install.

What risk level is configure_runtime? +

configure_runtime is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit configure_runtime? +

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

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

configure_runtime is provided by the Web Scraper MCP server (imyourboyroy/webscrapertoolkit). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Web Scraper tool call.

Start from Web Scraper, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →