# set_beacon_dns_mode

Set DNS mode for beacon

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `set_beacon_dns_mode`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/set-beacon-dns-mode

## Facts

- Tool: `set_beacon_dns_mode`
- Server: Cobalt Strike MCP Server (`mickeydb/cobalt-strike-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/MickeyDB/Cobalt-Strike-MCP
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "set_beacon_dns_mode",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why set_beacon_dns_mode is rated High

Changing the DNS mode of a beacon alters how a compromised implant communicates with its C2 server. This is an operational configuration change that affects live red team (or adversarial) infrastructure. It triggers external behavior changes on the beacon and cannot be trivially reversed without additional commands, placing it in Execute.

From the tool's own definition: "Set DNS mode for beacon — modifies the operational communication channel of a Cobalt Strike beacon"

## Use case

AI agents invoke set_beacon_dns_mode to trigger actions in Cobalt Strike MCP Server. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call: builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Cobalt Strike MCP Server:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "set_beacon_dns_mode": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "set_beacon_dns_mode_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Cobalt Strike MCP Server (219)

- `beacon_delete_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/beacon-delete-file.md
- `clear_beacon_command_queue` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/clear-beacon-command-queue.md
- `delete_credential` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-credential.md
- `delete_listener` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener.md
- `delete_listener_dns` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-dns.md
- `delete_listener_externalC2` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-externalc2.md
- `delete_listener_foreignHttp` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-foreignhttp.md
- `delete_listener_foreignHttps` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-foreignhttps.md
- `delete_listener_http` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-http.md
- `delete_listener_https` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-https.md
- `delete_listener_smb` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-smb.md
- `delete_listener_tcp` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-tcp.md
- `delete_listener_userDefinedC2` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/delete-listener-userdefinedc2.md
- `execute_kerberos_ticket_purge` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/execute-kerberos-ticket-purge.md
- `execute_socks_stop_all` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/execute-socks-stop-all.md
- `execute_tokenStore_remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/execute-tokenstore-remove.md
- `execute_tokenStore_removeAll` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/execute-tokenstore-removeall.md
- `kill_beacon` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/kill-beacon.md
- `reset_data` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/reset-data.md
- `beacon_change_directory` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/beacon-change-directory.md
- `beacon_copy_file` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/beacon-copy-file.md
- `create_listener` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener.md
- `create_listener_dns` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener-dns.md
- `create_listener_externalC2` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener-externalc2.md
- `create_listener_foreignHttp` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener-foreignhttp.md
- `create_listener_foreignHttps` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener-foreignhttps.md
- `create_listener_http` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener-http.md
- `create_listener_https` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener-https.md
- `create_listener_smb` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener-smb.md
- `create_listener_tcp` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp/create-listener-tcp.md
- …and 189 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/mickeydb-cobalt-strike-mcp