ping_host

Ping a host with the OS ping tool and return the reply summary.

SERVERMcp Hands SOURCEhuocai250/mcp-hands

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/mcp-hands/ping-host.md

WHAT IT DOES

What ping_host does on Mcp Hands

AI agents call ping_host to retrieve information from Mcp Hands without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

RISK

Why ping_host is rated Low

Even though ping_host only reads data, uncontrolled read access leaks sensitive information and racks up API costs: an agent caught in a retry loop can make thousands of calls a minute without anyone noticing.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs ping_host safely

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

ping_host Allowed

ping_host is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

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

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

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

FAQ

Questions about ping_host

What does the ping_host tool do? +

Ping a host with the OS ping tool and return the reply summary. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mcp Hands MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on ping_host? +

Register the Mcp Hands MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ping_host: 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 Hands. Nothing to install.

What risk level is ping_host? +

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

Can I rate-limit ping_host? +

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

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

ping_host is provided by the Mcp Hands MCP server (huocai250/mcp-hands). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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