Executes a command on a remote host via SSH. WARNING: This runs commands on a remote machine. Ensure the host and command are correct before executing. Returns structured output with stdout, stderr, exit code, and duration.
AI agents invoke ssh-run 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.
This tool executes arbitrary shell commands on remote hosts, which is the definition of Execute category. The blast radius is high because commands can modify systems, access sensitive data, or trigger unintended operations depending on the arguments provided.
From the tool's definition "Executes a command on a remote host via SSH" - directly runs arbitrary commands on remote machines with structured output (stdout, stderr, exit code). The warning emphasizes the severity of remote command execution.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access ssh-run gives an agent:
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 ssh-run:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"ssh-run": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "ssh-run_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 10,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}ssh-run 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.
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Executes a command on a remote host via SSH. WARNING: This runs commands on a remote machine. Ensure the host and command are correct before executing. Returns structured output with stdout, stderr, exit code, and duration. 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.
Register the Http MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ssh-run: 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.
ssh-run 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 ssh-run 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 ssh-run. 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.
ssh-run 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.
Start from Http, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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202 Http tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.