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make_clean

Run make clean command to clean build artifacts

How to control make_clean ↓

What make_clean does on MCP DevTools Server

AI agents invoke make_clean to trigger actions in MCP DevTools 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.

High Risk

Why make_clean needs a policy

This is Execute rather than Destructive because 'make clean' is conventionally reversible—it removes build artifacts that can be regenerated by rebuilding. However, depending on the Makefile definition, it could potentially delete more than intended.

From the tool's definition The tool explicitly performs 'Run make clean command', which executes a shell command with external effects. The make system invokes arbitrary build-system operations defined in Makefiles.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access make_clean gives an agent:

How to control make_clean

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and MCP DevTools Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for make_clean:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "make_clean": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "make_clean_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

make_clean 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.

  1. Create a free account and register MCP DevTools Server — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

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Related tools and policies

Go deeper

Questions about make_clean

What does the make_clean tool do? +

Run make clean command to clean build artifacts. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the MCP DevTools Server MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on make_clean? +

Register the MCP DevTools Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for make_clean: 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 MCP DevTools Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is make_clean? +

make_clean is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit make_clean? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the make_clean 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.

How do I block make_clean completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for make_clean. 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 make_clean? +

make_clean is provided by the MCP DevTools Server MCP server (rshade/mcp-devtools-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every MCP DevTools Server tool call.

Start from MCP DevTools Server, 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.

79 MCP DevTools Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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