List all tasks across all beacons or filter by beacon ID
AI agents call list_tasks 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 and displays task information from Cobalt Strike beacons without creating, modifying, or deleting any data. While the severity is high due to the sensitive operational context (red team/malware framework), the core function is information retrieval.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_tasks' and description 'List all tasks across all beacons or filter by beacon ID' indicates a retrieval/query operation with no modification capability. The verb 'list' is a classic Read operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all tasks across all beacons or filter by beacon ID. 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_tasks: 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_tasks 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_tasks 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_tasks. 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_tasks 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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