AI agents call backtrace to retrieve information from Rr without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The backtrace tool queries and retrieves the current call stack from a debugging session. This is a non-destructive read operation with no side effects—it only displays information about execution flow without changing program state, modifying breakpoints, creating checkpoints, or executing code. It falls clearly into the Read category.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'backtrace' and description 'Get the call stack showing how execution reached' indicate a read-only inspection operation that retrieves debugging state without modifying it.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get the call stack showing how execution reached. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Rr MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Rr MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for backtrace: 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 Rr. Nothing to install.
backtrace 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 backtrace 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 backtrace. 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.
backtrace is provided by the Rr MCP server (jnjaeschke/rr-mcp). 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 →