scout_press_key · Scout MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What scout_press_key does on Scout

AI agents invoke scout_press_key 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_press_key needs a policy

Pressing keyboard keys triggers browser actions whose effects depend entirely on the current context and arguments — pressing Enter could submit forms, confirm dialogs, or trigger navigation; Escape could cancel operations. This constitutes executing external browser operations with variable and potentially significant side effects, placing it in the Execute category.

From the tool's definition Press a keyboard key (e.g. Enter, Escape, ArrowDown, Backspace)

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

scout_press_key Rate-limited

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

FAQ

Questions about scout_press_key

What does the scout_press_key tool do? +

Press a keyboard key (e.g. Enter, Escape, ArrowDown, Backspace). 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_press_key? +

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

What risk level is scout_press_key? +

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

Can I rate-limit scout_press_key? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the scout_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 scout_press_key completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for scout_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 scout_press_key? +

scout_press_key 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.