AI agents call capture_status to retrieve information from Mitm without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only retrieves and reports on the state of existing proxy and capture operations. It does not start, stop, modify, or delete any network traffic interception, nor does it execute commands or access user credentials. It is a simple status query that returns metrics about running processes, making it a Read operation with minimal security risk even if an AI agent invokes it.
From the tool's definition Tool returns status information: 'current proxy and capture status, flow count, and pcap size' — purely informational queries with no side effects or modifications.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Return current proxy and capture status, flow count, and pcap size. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mitm MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Mitm MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for capture_status: 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 Mitm. Nothing to install.
capture_status 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 capture_status 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 capture_status. 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.
capture_status is provided by the Mitm MCP server (mplogas/mitmproxy-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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