suspend_vm · Mcp Utm MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What suspend_vm does on Mcp Utm

AI agents invoke suspend_vm to trigger actions in Mcp Utm. 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.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why suspend_vm needs a policy

Suspending a VM is an operational action that changes the state of a running virtual machine (from running to suspended). It is not a simple read, nor does it delete or overwrite data irreversibly. It triggers an external operation (via AppleScript on the UTM hypervisor) whose effect is to pause execution and save VM state to memory. This fits the Execute category.

From the tool's definition Suspend a running VM to memory

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

suspend_vm Rate-limited

suspend_vm stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "suspend_vm": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "suspend_vm_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Mcp Utm, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about suspend_vm

What does the suspend_vm tool do? +

Suspend a running VM to memory. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Mcp Utm MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on suspend_vm? +

Register the Mcp Utm MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for suspend_vm: 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 Utm. Nothing to install.

What risk level is suspend_vm? +

suspend_vm is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit suspend_vm? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the suspend_vm 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 suspend_vm completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for suspend_vm. 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 suspend_vm? +

suspend_vm is provided by the Mcp Utm MCP server (neverprepared/mcp-utm). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.