Navigate the browser tab: open a URL, move browser history, or create a new tab. Pass 'target' as a URL/domain (https added if missing), 'back'/'forward' for history, or 'new' to create a blank tab. Set 'forceNewTabOpen: true' to force creating a new tab when navigating (instead of reusing existi...
AI agents invoke browser_navigate to trigger actions in Search. 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.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
target | string | Yes | Where to go: full URL, bare domain (we add https://), "back"/"forward" for history navigation, or "new" to create a new tab |
forceNewTabOpen | boolean | — | If true, forces creating a new tab in the automation group even if a tab is already assigned. Default: false (reuses existing tab) |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
browser_navigate is a browser automation tool that executes navigation commands with side effects that depend on arguments. While not destructive or financial in isolation, it performs active operations (navigate, create tabs, control history) that go beyond passive data retrieval, making it Execute category.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states it 'Navigate the browser tab: open a URL, move browser history, or create a new tab' and 'triggers external operations' via browser automation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Navigate the browser tab: open a URL, move browser history, or create a new tab. Pass 'target' as a URL/domain (https added if missing), 'back'/'forward' for history, or 'new' to create a blank tab. Set 'forceNewTabOpen: true' to force creating a new tab when navigating (instead of reusing existing assigned tab). Returns: (1) shortened YAML snapshot text, (2) base64 PNG screenshot, (3) base64 PNG screenshot with refs. Note: Snapshot is shortened by default. If you see an element in the screenshot that has no ref in the snapshot, call browser_snapshot with detail='all' to get the full snapshot. Warning: Snapshot may not reflect latest page state due to async web content; call browser_snapshot to get current state if needed. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Search MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
browser_navigate accepts 2 parameters: target, forceNewTabOpen. Required: target. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Search MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for browser_navigate: 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 Search. Nothing to install.
browser_navigate is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the browser_navigate 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 browser_navigate. 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.
browser_navigate is provided by the Search MCP server (search-mcp-server). 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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