scout_handoff_cancel · Scout MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What scout_handoff_cancel does on Scout

AI agents invoke scout_handoff_cancel to trigger actions in Scout. 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 scout_handoff_cancel needs a policy

This tool triggers an external operation in the browser — cancelling a pending handoff and removing UI elements. It modifies browser state and cancels an in-progress operation, making it an Execute-category action. The blast radius is medium because cancelling a handoff could interrupt workflows, but it is not inherently destructive or financial.

From the tool's definition Cancel a pending handoff and remove the banner from the browser

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

scout_handoff_cancel Rate-limited

scout_handoff_cancel 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": {
    "scout_handoff_cancel": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "scout_handoff_cancel_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 Scout, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about scout_handoff_cancel

What does the scout_handoff_cancel tool do? +

Cancel a pending handoff and remove the banner from the browser. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Scout MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on scout_handoff_cancel? +

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

What risk level is scout_handoff_cancel? +

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

Can I rate-limit scout_handoff_cancel? +

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

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

scout_handoff_cancel is provided by the Scout MCP server (lautrek/scout). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.