Medium Risk

initshutdown_create

Create an init/shutdown script

How to control initshutdown_create ↓

What initshutdown_create does on Truenas

AI agents use initshutdown_create to create or update resources in Truenas — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Truenas environment.

Medium Risk

Why initshutdown_create needs a policy

Creates a new init/shutdown script that will execute during system startup or shutdown. While this is a write operation (creating a new record), the created script can execute arbitrary code at system boot/shutdown, making misuse potentially high-impact. However, the act of creating the script itself is a Write operation — execution happens separately when the system boots/shuts down.

From the tool's definition Create an init/shutdown script

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access initshutdown_create gives an agent:

How to control initshutdown_create

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Truenas, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for initshutdown_create:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "initshutdown_create": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "initshutdown_create_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

initshutdown_create stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register Truenas — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Related tools and policies

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Questions about initshutdown_create

What does the initshutdown_create tool do? +

Create an init/shutdown script. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Truenas MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on initshutdown_create? +

Register the Truenas MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for initshutdown_create: 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 Truenas. Nothing to install.

What risk level is initshutdown_create? +

initshutdown_create is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit initshutdown_create? +

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

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

initshutdown_create is provided by the Truenas MCP server (spranab/truenas-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Truenas tool call.

Start from Truenas, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

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