press_key · Mac MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What press_key does on Mac

AI agents invoke press_key to trigger actions in Mac. 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 press_key needs a policy

This tool simulates keyboard key presses on the macOS system, which constitutes triggering external operations. An AI agent could misuse this to confirm dialogs, trigger shortcuts, delete content, or interact with any focused application in unpredictable ways. The blast radius is high because key presses can have wide-ranging effects depending on the current system state and focused application.

From the tool's definition Presses a key by name (Enter, Tab, Escape, F1-F12, Arrow keys, etc.)

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

press_key Rate-limited

press_key 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": {
    "press_key": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "press_key_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 Mac, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about press_key

What does the press_key tool do? +

Presses a key by name (Enter, Tab, Escape, F1-F12, Arrow keys, etc.). It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Mac MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on press_key? +

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

What risk level is press_key? +

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

Can I rate-limit press_key? +

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

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

press_key is provided by the Mac MCP server (laststance/mac-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

// THE FULL RECORD

press_key is one line of Mac's registry record.

The record carries the whole server: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, every tool classified, recommended policy — re-checked continuously.

Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →