Download a file from an Empire agent
AI agents call empire_download to retrieve information from PowerShell Empire MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The tool retrieves/queries files from Empire agents with no side effects on the agent or the retrieved file. However, severity is elevated to 'high' because the context involves a post-exploitation framework (Empire) where downloaded files may contain sensitive credentials, source code, or other critical data that could be weaponized by a misguided AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'empire_download' and description states 'Download a file from an Empire agent' — this retrieves data from a compromised agent without modifying or deleting it.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Download a file from an Empire agent. It is categorised as a Read tool in the PowerShell Empire MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the PowerShell Empire MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for empire_download: 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 PowerShell Empire MCP Server. Nothing to install.
empire_download 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 empire_download 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 empire_download. 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.
empire_download is provided by the PowerShell Empire MCP Server MCP server (schwarztim/sec-powershell-empire-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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