Type text using keyboard input. If app is specified, focuses that app first to ensure keystrokes go to the right place. Without app, types into the frontmost app. Prefer batch_actions when combining with other actions.
AI agents invoke type_text to trigger actions in Macos Control. 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.
This tool simulates keyboard input into applications, which constitutes an external operation with effects that depend on arguments. Misuse could inject arbitrary text into any application (terminals, editors, chat apps, browsers), potentially executing commands, sending messages, or modifying sensitive data. The ability to target specific apps increases the blast radius significantly.
From the tool's definition Type text using keyboard input... focuses that app first to ensure keystrokes go to the right place... types into the frontmost app
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access type_text gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Macos Control, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for type_text:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"type_text": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "type_text_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 10,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}type_text 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.
Free to start. No card required.
Type text using keyboard input. If app is specified, focuses that app first to ensure keystrokes go to the right place. Without app, types into the frontmost app. Prefer batch_actions when combining with other actions. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Macos Control MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the Macos Control MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for type_text: 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 Macos Control. Nothing to install.
type_text is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the type_text 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 type_text. 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.
type_text is provided by the Macos Control MCP server (peterhdd/macos-control-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Macos Control, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
22 Macos Control tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.