High Risk →

new_session

Start a fresh browser session, clearing all existing sessions.

How to control new_session ↓

What new_session does on Web Scraper

AI agents invoke new_session to trigger actions in Web Scraper. 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.

High Risk

Why new_session needs a policy

This tool triggers external browser operations (session initialization and clearing) whose effects depend on how an agent uses the resulting session. While not immediately destructive, it executes browser control commands that could be chained with other tools (browser_click, browser_navigate, etc.) to perform unintended actions.

From the tool's definition Tool performs 'Start a fresh browser session, clearing all existing sessions' — initiates and controls browser automation with side effects that depend on context and subsequent operations.

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

How to control new_session

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 new_session:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "new_session": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "new_session_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

new_session 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.

  1. Create a free account and register Web Scraper — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

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Related tools and policies

Go deeper

Questions about new_session

What does the new_session tool do? +

Start a fresh browser session, clearing all existing sessions. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Web Scraper MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on new_session? +

Register the Web Scraper MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for new_session: 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 new_session? +

new_session is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit new_session? +

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

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

new_session 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.

Free to start. No card required.

62 Web Scraper tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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