Low Risk

censys_certificates

Search Censys certificate database. Returns certificate fingerprints, subjects, issuers, validity, and SANs. Requires CENSYS_API_ID + CENSYS_API_SECRET.

Accepts freeform code/query input (query)

Part of the Osint MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

AI agents call censys_certificates to retrieve information from Osint without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.

Even though censys_certificates only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.

Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.

osint.yaml
tools:
  censys_certificates:
    rules:
      - action: allow

See the full Osint policy for all 37 tools.

Tool Name censys_certificates
Category Read
MCP Server Osint MCP Server
Risk Level Low

View all 37 tools →

Agents calling read-class tools like censys_certificates have been implicated in these attack patterns. Read the full case and prevention policy for each:

Browse the full MCP Attack Database →

Other tools in the Read risk category across the catalogue. The same policy patterns (rate-limit, allow) apply to each.

What does the censys_certificates tool do? +

Search Censys certificate database. Returns certificate fingerprints, subjects, issuers, validity, and SANs. Requires CENSYS_API_ID + CENSYS_API_SECRET.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Osint MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on censys_certificates? +

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for censys_certificates. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the Osint MCP server.

What risk level is censys_certificates? +

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

Can I rate-limit censys_certificates? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the censys_certificates rule in your Intercept 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 censys_certificates completely? +

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for censys_certificates. 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 censys_certificates? +

censys_certificates is provided by the Osint MCP server (osint-mcp-server). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Let agents act without letting them run wild.

Deterministic policy on every MCP tool call. Per-identity grants. Full audit log.

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