scope_trigger · Oscilloscope MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What scope_trigger does on Oscilloscope

AI agents invoke scope_trigger to trigger actions in Oscilloscope. 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.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why scope_trigger needs a policy

Triggering an oscilloscope is an Execute action: it commands external hardware to perform an operation (data capture initiation or trigger condition setup) whose effects depend on configuration arguments. While not destructive, not financial, and not a simple read, it actively executes a hardware operation.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'scope_trigger' on an oscilloscope control server with capabilities for 'waveform capture' and 'frequency measurements'.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

scope_trigger Rate-limited

scope_trigger 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "scope_trigger": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "scope_trigger_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Oscilloscope, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about scope_trigger

What does the scope_trigger tool do? +

scope_trigger. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Oscilloscope MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on scope_trigger? +

Register the Oscilloscope MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for scope_trigger: 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 Oscilloscope. Nothing to install.

What risk level is scope_trigger? +

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

Can I rate-limit scope_trigger? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the scope_trigger 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 scope_trigger completely? +

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

scope_trigger is provided by the Oscilloscope MCP server (sandraschi/oscilloscope-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.