List all file downloads from beacons
AI agents call list_downloads 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 retrieves data about beacon activities without side effects, placing it in the Read category. However, severity is elevated to 'high' because in the context of a Cobalt Strike red team server, access to downloaded files intelligence could reveal sensitive exfiltrated data, compromise victim information, or expose operational security details.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'list_downloads' and description states it 'List all file downloads from beacons'. The action is purely informational—querying and retrieving a list of downloaded files with no modification, deletion, or execution.
Risk signalsBulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all file downloads from beacons. 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 list_downloads: 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.
list_downloads 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 list_downloads 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 list_downloads. 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.
list_downloads 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.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →