AI agents invoke start_record to trigger actions in OBS MCP Server. 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 executes a command that initiates a recording process in OBS Studio. While not destructive in itself (recordings can be deleted), it triggers an external operation with real-world side effects—disk I/O, resource consumption, and creation of media files. An agent misusing this could flood storage, interfere with legitimate broadcasts, or record sensitive content.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'start_record' and description 'Starts the record output' indicate the tool triggers an external operation (recording) whose effects depend on OBS configuration and cannot be trivially undone without manual intervention.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access start_record gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and OBS MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for start_record:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"start_record": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "start_record_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 10,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
} start_record 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.
Starts the record output. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the OBS MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the OBS MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for start_record: 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 OBS MCP Server. Nothing to install.
start_record 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 start_record 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 start_record. 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.
start_record is provided by the OBS MCP Server MCP server (royshil/obs-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 200 OBS MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
200 OBS MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.