High Risk →

ruff-format

Runs ruff format and returns structured results (files changed, file list).

How to control ruff-format ↓

What ruff-format does on Http

AI agents invoke ruff-format to trigger actions in Http. 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 ruff-format needs a policy

This tool executes an external code formatting process (ruff format) that modifies files on disk. It is not purely read-only since it changes file contents, and it is not destructive in an irreversible sense (formatting can be reverted), but it does run an external command and alters files. Execute is the most appropriate category as it triggers an external operation whose effects depend on arguments.

From the tool's definition 'Runs ruff format' — actively executes the ruff formatter tool, modifying source files in place

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access ruff-format gives an agent:

How to control ruff-format

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

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "ruff-format": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "ruff-format_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

ruff-format 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 Http — 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

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Questions about ruff-format

What does the ruff-format tool do? +

Runs ruff format and returns structured results (files changed, file list). It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Http MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on ruff-format? +

Register the Http MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ruff-format: 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.

What risk level is ruff-format? +

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

Can I rate-limit ruff-format? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the ruff-format 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 ruff-format completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for ruff-format. 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 ruff-format? +

ruff-format 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.

Enforce policy on every Http tool call.

Start from Http, 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.

202 Http tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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