create_session · Shannon MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What create_session does on Shannon MCP

AI agents invoke create_session to trigger actions in Shannon MCP. 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.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why create_session needs a policy

Creating a Claude Code session initiates an external process capable of executing code, running shell commands, and performing arbitrary operations depending on the session's subsequent instructions. While session creation itself may not immediately execute code, it establishes an execution context with potentially broad capabilities.

From the tool's definition "Create a new Claude Code session" — spawns a new Claude Code CLI process/session, which triggers external operations and establishes a running agent environment.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

create_session Rate-limited

create_session 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "create_session": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "create_session_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Shannon MCP, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about create_session

What does the create_session tool do? +

Create a new Claude Code session. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Shannon MCP MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on create_session? +

Register the Shannon MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for create_session: 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 Shannon MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is create_session? +

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

Can I rate-limit create_session? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the create_session 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 create_session completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for create_session. 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 create_session? +

create_session is provided by the Shannon MCP server (krzemienski/shannon-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.