AI agents call vm_ssh to retrieve information from tmux-claude MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves SSH connection information (likely hostname, port, credentials, or connection strings) for a virtual machine. It performs a read-only query operation with no side effects. While SSH credentials are sensitive, the tool itself only retrieves/exposes existing information rather than executing commands or modifying state.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'vm_ssh' and description 'Get SSH connection information for a VM' indicate retrieval of connection details without modifying or executing anything.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access vm_ssh gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and tmux-claude MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for vm_ssh:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"vm_ssh": {}
}
}vm_ssh is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get SSH connection information for a VM. It is categorised as a Read tool in the tmux-claude MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the tmux-claude MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for vm_ssh: 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 tmux-claude MCP Server. Nothing to install.
vm_ssh 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 vm_ssh 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 vm_ssh. 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.
vm_ssh is provided by the tmux-claude MCP Server MCP server (michael-abdo/tmux-claude-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from tmux-claude MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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26 tmux-claude MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.