ssh_list_sessions

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why ssh_list_sessions needs a policy

This tool retrieves session metadata only. While the SSH server as a whole enables Execute operations (ssh_exec) and potentially Destructive actions, this specific tool is purely informational—it lists active sessions without triggering commands, modifications, or deletions. The blast radius of misuse is minimal: an attacker gains visibility into which sessions exist but cannot directly harm systems.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'ssh_list_sessions' and description 'List all active SSH sessions' indicate a query/retrieval operation with no side effects. It returns information about existing sessions without modifying, executing, or deleting anything.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access ssh_list_sessions gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control ssh_list_sessions

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and SSH MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for ssh_list_sessions:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "ssh_list_sessions": {}
  }
}

ssh_list_sessions is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register SSH MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More SSH MCP Server tools

Destructive ssh_disconnect Disconnect an SSH session Execute ssh_cancel_command Cancel currently running MCP command for specified SSH session Execute ssh_exec Execute command on remote server via SSH Execute ssh_poll_task Check status of background task in SSH session Execute ssh_connect Establish SSH connection to a remote server Read ssh_version Get SSH MCP server version and build information Read ssh_get_monitoring_url Get the monitoring URL for an SSH session

All 8 SSH MCP Server tools →

Read tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server get_torrent_detail YouTube MCP Server search_channel Android Forensics ADB MCP Server parse_browser_history 0xarchive web3_challenge

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about ssh_list_sessions

What does the ssh_list_sessions tool do? +

List all active SSH sessions. It is categorised as a Read tool in the SSH MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on ssh_list_sessions? +

Register the SSH MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ssh_list_sessions: 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 SSH MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is ssh_list_sessions? +

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

Can I rate-limit ssh_list_sessions? +

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

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

ssh_list_sessions is provided by the SSH MCP Server MCP server (lightspeeddms/ssh-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every SSH MCP Server tool call.

Start from SSH MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →