AI agents call listTunnels to retrieve information from Mcp Ssh without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves information about existing SSH tunnels without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a read-only query that provides visibility into active tunnels. While the server enables Execute and Destructive capabilities via sibling tools like executeCommand and deleteConnection, this specific tool is purely informational and has minimal blast radius if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'listTunnels' and description 'Lists all active SSH tunnels' indicate a query/retrieval operation with no modification or execution of commands.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access listTunnels gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Mcp Ssh, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for listTunnels:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"listTunnels": {}
}
}listTunnels is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Lists all active SSH tunnels. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mcp Ssh MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Mcp Ssh MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for listTunnels: 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 Mcp Ssh. Nothing to install.
listTunnels 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 listTunnels 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 listTunnels. 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.
listTunnels is provided by the Mcp Ssh MCP server (shuakami/mcp-ssh). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 23 Mcp Ssh tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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23 Mcp Ssh tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.