check_url_status

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why check_url_status needs a policy

This tool performs a HEAD or GET request to retrieve HTTP status information about a URL. It is non-destructive, does not execute arbitrary code, and has no side effects beyond reading publicly available HTTP headers. The operation is analogous to 'ping' or 'curl -I' and falls squarely into the Read category.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'check_url_status' and description 'Check if URL is accessible and get HTTP status codes' indicate a query operation that retrieves HTTP response metadata without modifying, executing, or deleting anything.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access check_url_status gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control check_url_status

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and MCP Web Scrape, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for check_url_status:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "check_url_status": {}
  }
}

check_url_status is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register MCP Web Scrape — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

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EXPLORE

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about check_url_status

What does the check_url_status tool do? +

Check if URL is accessible and get HTTP status codes. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Web Scrape MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on check_url_status? +

Register the MCP Web Scrape MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for check_url_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 MCP Web Scrape. Nothing to install.

What risk level is check_url_status? +

check_url_status is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit check_url_status? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the check_url_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.

How do I block check_url_status completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for check_url_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.

What MCP server provides check_url_status? +

check_url_status is provided by the MCP Web Scrape MCP server (mukul975/mcp-web-scrape). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every MCP Web Scrape tool call.

Start from MCP Web Scrape, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

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