pip-show
Runs pip show and returns structured package metadata (name, version, summary, dependencies).
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-dave-london-http/pip-show.md
What pip-show does on Http
AI agents call pip-show to retrieve information from Http without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why pip-show is rated Low
pip show is a standard Python package manager query command that retrieves and displays metadata about installed packages (name, version, summary, dependencies). It performs no write operations, does not execute arbitrary code, and has no side effects beyond information retrieval. This is a straightforward Read category tool with minimal security risk.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states it 'Runs pip show and returns structured package metadata' – pip show is a read-only query operation that displays installed package information without modifying or executing anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs pip-show safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Http, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For pip-show, this is the rule to start with:
pip-show is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Http, apply this rule, and every pip-show call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about pip-show
Runs pip show and returns structured package metadata (name, version, summary, dependencies). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Http MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Http MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for pip-show: 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 Http. Nothing to install.
pip-show is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the pip-show 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 pip-show. 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.
pip-show is provided by the Http MCP server (@paretools/http). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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