AI agents call list_failed_services to retrieve information from Sysprobe without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries system state to report failed services without modifying, deleting, executing commands, or triggering actions. It is a diagnostic read operation with minimal blast radius—the worst outcome is incomplete or incorrect status information returned to the agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name and description indicate data retrieval only: 'list_failed_services' retrieves information about failed system units ('what's broken?' check'). The verb 'list' and read-only nature of querying service status with no mutating capability.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
All failed units — fastest 'what's broken?' check. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Sysprobe MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Sysprobe MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_failed_services: 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 Sysprobe. Nothing to install.
list_failed_services is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_failed_services 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 list_failed_services. 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.
list_failed_services is provided by the Sysprobe MCP server (raindancer118/sysprobe-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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