Download a file from a remote server to the local machine via SFTP.
AI agents call ssh_download to retrieve information from Claude Ssh without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The ssh_download tool retrieves files from a remote server to a local machine. This is a read operation—it queries and fetches data without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing operations on the remote system.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'ssh_download' and description 'Download a file from a remote server to the local machine via SFTP' indicate retrieval of data with no modification or deletion of source data.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Download a file from a remote server to the local machine via SFTP. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Claude Ssh MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Claude Ssh MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ssh_download: 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 Claude Ssh. Nothing to install.
ssh_download 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 ssh_download 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 ssh_download. 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.
ssh_download is provided by the Claude Ssh MCP server (marabank/mcp-ssh-server). 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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