launch_app

Launch a local Windows application.

SERVERMcp Control Plane SOURCEalbertik322-sudo/mcp-control-plane

High RISK CLASS

Category Execute

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/mcp-control-plane/launch-app.md

WHAT IT DOES

What launch_app does on Mcp Control Plane

AI agents invoke launch_app to trigger actions in Mcp Control Plane. 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.

RISK

Why launch_app is rated High

This tool triggers external operations (application startup) whose effects depend on arguments (which app to launch). It is Execute rather than Write because launching an application is not a reversible data modification—it initiates processes with unpredictable side effects (file access, network calls, system changes).

From the tool's definition Tool performs 'Launch a local Windows application' — directly executes arbitrary applications with side effects determined by which application is launched and its runtime behavior.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs launch_app safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Mcp Control Plane, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For launch_app, this is the rule to start with:

launch_app Rate-limited

launch_app 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": {
    "launch_app": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "launch_app_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Mcp Control Plane, apply this rule, and every launch_app call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about launch_app

What does the launch_app tool do? +

Launch a local Windows application. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Mcp Control Plane MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on launch_app? +

Register the Mcp Control Plane MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for launch_app: 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 Mcp Control Plane. Nothing to install.

What risk level is launch_app? +

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

Can I rate-limit launch_app? +

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

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

launch_app is provided by the Mcp Control Plane MCP server (albertik322-sudo/mcp-control-plane). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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