MCP Tool Reference Low Risk

port_forward

Forward a local port to a port on a Kubernetes resource

Part of the Kubernetes MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

Other

WHEN AI AGENTS USE THIS TOOL

AI agents call port_forward to perform operations in Kubernetes. While the risk category is not fully classified, applying a rate limit gives you visibility into how often the tool is called and prevents unexpected bursts of activity from autonomous agents.

WHY ENFORCE A POLICY ON PORT_FORWARD

Applying a policy to port_forward gives you an audit trail of every call an AI agent makes. Even for low-risk tools, visibility into agent behaviour helps you debug issues, optimise workflows, and maintain compliance with your organisation's security requirements.

RECOMMENDED POLICY

Apply a rate limit to control usage and monitor for unexpected behaviour.

kubernetes.yaml 
tools:
  port_forward:
    rules:
      - action: allow
        rate_limit:
          max: 60
          window: 60

See the full Kubernetes policy for all 22 tools.

DETAILS

Tool Name

port_forward

Category

Other

MCP Server

Kubernetes MCP Server

Risk Level

Low

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RELATED READING

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does the port_forward tool do?

Forward a local port to a port on a Kubernetes resource. It is categorised as a Other tool in the Kubernetes MCP Server, which means it performs auxiliary operations.

How do I enforce a policy on port_forward?

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for port_forward. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the Kubernetes MCP server.

What risk level is port_forward?

port_forward is a Other tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit port_forward?

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the port_forward rule in your Intercept 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 port_forward completely?

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for port_forward. 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 port_forward?

port_forward is provided by the Kubernetes MCP server (). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

ENFORCE POLICIES ON KUBERNETES

Open source. One binary. Zero dependencies.

VIEW ON GITHUB Full Kubernetes policy →