Parse a Terraform state file (.tfstate) and calculate actual infrastructure costs. Optionally compare against planned costs from HCL files to show drift.
AI agents call compare_actual to retrieve information from CloudCost MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The tool retrieves and analyzes infrastructure cost data from Terraform state files and HCL plans. While it performs calculation and comparison, it is fundamentally a read operation that gathers and presents information. No data is modified, deleted, code is executed, or financial transactions occur. The optional comparison is still a read-level operation.
From the tool's definition Tool 'parse[s] a Terraform state file' and 'calculate[s] actual infrastructure costs', with optional comparison against planned costs.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Parse a Terraform state file (.tfstate) and calculate actual infrastructure costs. Optionally compare against planned costs from HCL files to show drift. It is categorised as a Read tool in the CloudCost MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the CloudCost MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for compare_actual: 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 CloudCost MCP Server. Nothing to install.
compare_actual 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 compare_actual 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 compare_actual. 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.
compare_actual is provided by the CloudCost MCP Server MCP server (jadenrazo/cloudcostmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →