compose-up

THE RISK

High Risk

Why compose-up needs a policy

Starting Docker Compose services is an Execute-category action: it triggers external operations (spinning up containers, networks, volumes) whose effects depend on the compose configuration. It can expose ports, consume resources, and run arbitrary container workloads, making misuse potentially high-impact.

From the tool's definition 'Starts Docker Compose services' — launches containerized services/processes as an external operation

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access compose-up gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control compose-up

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

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "compose-up": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "compose-up_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

compose-up 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.

Create a free account and register Make — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Make tools

Destructive clean Runs dotnet clean to remove build outputs and returns structured results. Destructive remove Runs Destructive reset Resets the current HEAD to a specified state. Supports soft, mixed, hard, merge, and keep Destructive secret-delete Deletes a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions secret. Destructive tag Manages git tags. Supports list (default), create, and delete actions. List returns struct Destructive vagrant Manages Vagrant VMs: status, global-status, up, halt, destroy. Destructive variable-delete Deletes a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions variable. Destructive workspace Manages Terraform workspaces: list, select, create, or delete workspaces.

All 202 Make tools →

Execute tools on other servers

Android Forensics ADB MCP Server adb_shell_command EMBA-MCP run_emba_scan Frida Game Hacking MCP remove_breakpoint Procmon request_elevation

Go deeper

Govern code and CI agents → Branch allowlists, approval on merges, and rate caps on the build and pipeline tools agents trigger.
High-risk tools in Make → Every high-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All high-risk MCP tools → Every high-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Agent sandbox → Bounding what an agent can execute and where the boundary should sit.
Least privilege for MCP → Granting agents the minimum tool surface the task needs.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →
PolicyLayer vs alternatives → How deterministic, per-call MCP policy compares with gateways, identity layers, and authorisation platforms.

FAQ

Questions about compose-up

What does the compose-up tool do? +

Starts Docker Compose services and returns structured status. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Make MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on compose-up? +

Register the Make MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for compose-up: 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 Make. Nothing to install.

What risk level is compose-up? +

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

Can I rate-limit compose-up? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the compose-up 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 compose-up completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for compose-up. 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 compose-up? +

compose-up is provided by the Make MCP server (Dave-London/Pare). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Make tool call.

Start from Make, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →