Returns the current cursor position and the text of the line the cursor is on. Lightweight alternative to reading the full screen.
AI agents call get_screen_cursor to retrieve information from Interactive Shell MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves information about the current state of a shell session (cursor position and current line text). It performs no writes, deletions, or command execution. The information returned could be sensitive if the shell contains credentials or private data, but the tool itself is purely read-only.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Returns the current cursor position and the text of the line the cursor is on' - a retrieval operation with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Returns the current cursor position and the text of the line the cursor is on. Lightweight alternative to reading the full screen. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Interactive Shell MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Interactive Shell MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_screen_cursor: 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 Interactive Shell MCP. Nothing to install.
get_screen_cursor is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the get_screen_cursor 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for get_screen_cursor. 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.
get_screen_cursor is provided by the Interactive Shell MCP server (lightos/interactive-shell-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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