AI agents invoke switch_instance to trigger actions in IDA Pro MCP Multi. 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.
The tool name suggests switching between IDA Pro instances, which is an external operation that changes active state/context. This is most likely an Execute-class action as it triggers a state change in an external application. However, the empty description significantly reduces confidence. It could also be Write-class if it merely updates a configuration.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'switch_instance' combined with server context of 'multi-instance support' for IDA Pro; description is empty and uninformative.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access switch_instance gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and IDA Pro MCP Multi, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for switch_instance:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"switch_instance": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "switch_instance_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 10,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}switch_instance 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.
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switch_instance. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the IDA Pro MCP Multi MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the IDA Pro MCP Multi MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for switch_instance: 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 IDA Pro MCP Multi. Nothing to install.
switch_instance 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 switch_instance 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 switch_instance. 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.
switch_instance is provided by the IDA Pro MCP Multi MCP server (qymag1c/ida-pro-mcp-multi). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from IDA Pro MCP Multi, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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5 IDA Pro MCP Multi tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.