List all supported hash formats. Can filter by keyword.
AI agents call john_formats to retrieve information from John The Ripper without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and returns informational data about supported hash formats. It performs no modifications, does not execute password cracking, and has no destructive or financial impact. Despite being on a security-focused server (John the Ripper for password auditing), this specific tool is purely informational—similar to querying documentation or a reference list.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'List all supported hash formats' with optional keyword filtering. These are read-only operations that retrieve reference data without side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all supported hash formats. Can filter by keyword. It is categorised as a Read tool in the John The Ripper MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the John The Ripper MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for john_formats: 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 John The Ripper. Nothing to install.
john_formats 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 john_formats 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 john_formats. 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.
john_formats is provided by the John The Ripper MCP server (schwarztim/sec-john-the-ripper-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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