Get current working directory on a beacon
AI agents call beacon_get_current_directory to retrieve information from Cobalt Strike MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries state (current directory path) from a compromised/controlled host (beacon) with no side effects. It is a Read operation. However, severity is high because the Cobalt Strike context indicates this is a red team/adversarial tool operating on hosts already compromised by an attacker framework.
From the tool's definition beacon_get_current_directory retrieves the current working directory on a beacon without modifying system state. The description uses 'Get', a read-only operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get current working directory on a beacon. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Cobalt Strike MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Cobalt Strike MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for beacon_get_current_directory: 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 Cobalt Strike MCP Server. Nothing to install.
beacon_get_current_directory 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 beacon_get_current_directory 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 beacon_get_current_directory. 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.
beacon_get_current_directory is provided by the Cobalt Strike MCP Server MCP server (mickeydb/cobalt-strike-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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