restart_dev_server · DevTools MCP Server MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What restart_dev_server does on DevTools MCP Server

AI agents invoke restart_dev_server to trigger actions in DevTools MCP 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.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why restart_dev_server needs a policy

Restarting a development server executes an external operation that halts and restarts processes. While not permanently destructive or irreversibly damaging, it can cause service interruption, data loss if in-flight requests are interrupted, or state corruption if the server has unsaved state. The severity is high because an agent could restart critical infrastructure.

From the tool's definition Tool name: restart_dev_server; description: 'Restart a development server'. Restarts trigger external operations (server shutdown and startup) whose effects depend on which server is targeted.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

restart_dev_server Rate-limited

restart_dev_server 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": {
    "restart_dev_server": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "restart_dev_server_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

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Instant setup, no code required.

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

FAQ

Questions about restart_dev_server

What does the restart_dev_server tool do? +

Restart a development server. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the DevTools MCP 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 restart_dev_server? +

Register the DevTools MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for restart_dev_server: 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 DevTools MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is restart_dev_server? +

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

Can I rate-limit restart_dev_server? +

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

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

restart_dev_server is provided by the DevTools MCP Server MCP server (shabaraba/devtools-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.