High Risk →

make_lint

Run make lint command to check code style and quality

How to control make_lint ↓

What make_lint does on MCP DevTools Server

AI agents invoke make_lint 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_lint needs a policy

This tool triggers execution of an external command (make lint) whose behavior depends on the project's Makefile and linting configuration. While the primary intent is non-destructive analysis, it executes arbitrary code via the make system, which falls under the Execute category.

From the tool's definition Tool 'make_lint' runs the make lint command, which executes a shell command that checks code style and quality. The description explicitly states 'Run make lint command', indicating external command execution.

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

How to control make_lint

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_lint:

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

make_lint 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_lint

What does the make_lint tool do? +

Run make lint command to check code style and quality. 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_lint? +

Register the MCP DevTools Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for make_lint: 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_lint? +

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

Can I rate-limit make_lint? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the make_lint 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_lint completely? +

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

make_lint 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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