AI agents call read_screen to retrieve information from Iterm2 without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and queries the current visible content from a terminal session without modifying, creating, deleting, or executing anything. It is a read-only operation that has no blast radius if misused by an AI agent—it cannot cause unintended modifications, deletions, or execution of commands.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'read_screen' and description 'Read the visible contents of an iTerm2 session as plain text' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Read the visible contents of an iTerm2 session as plain text. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Iterm2 MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Iterm2 MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for read_screen: 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 Iterm2. Nothing to install.
read_screen 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 read_screen 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 read_screen. 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.
read_screen is provided by the Iterm2 MCP server (lorencarvalho/iterm2-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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