This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-dave-london-go/shellcheck.md
What shellcheck does on Go
AI agents invoke shellcheck to trigger actions in Go. 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.
Why shellcheck is rated High
The tool executes an external process (ShellCheck) against shell scripts. While it is read-only in intent (linting/analysis), it runs an external program whose behavior depends on the file arguments provided. It falls under Execute as it triggers an external operation. Severity is medium because misuse could be used to probe file contents or run against unintended files, but it does not modify or delete data.
From the tool's definition Runs ShellCheck (shell script linter)
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs shellcheck safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Go, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For shellcheck, this is the rule to start with:
shellcheck 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.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Go, apply this rule, and every shellcheck call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about shellcheck
Runs ShellCheck (shell script linter) and returns structured diagnostics (file, line, column, rule, severity, message). It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Go MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the Go MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for shellcheck: 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 Go. Nothing to install.
shellcheck 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 shellcheck 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 shellcheck. 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.
shellcheck is provided by the Go MCP server (Dave-London/Pare). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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