get_default_printer

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why get_default_printer needs a policy

This tool queries printer configuration to retrieve the current default printer name. It has no side effects, makes no modifications, and does not execute code or trigger external operations. It is a straightforward data retrieval operation, making it a Read category risk with low severity.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_default_printer' and description 'Get the name of the default printer' indicate a read-only query operation that retrieves configuration state without modifying or executing anything.

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

POLICY

How to control get_default_printer

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

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "get_default_printer": {}
  }
}

get_default_printer is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register MCP Printer Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More MCP Printer Server tools

Destructive cancel_print_job Cancel a specific print job by job ID or cancel all jobs for a printer. Execute print_file Print a file to a specified printer. Supports PDF, text, and other common formats. Can spe Write set_default_printer Set a printer as the default printer Read get_config Get the current MCP Printer configuration settings. Returns environment variables and thei Read get_page_meta Get page count and physical sheet information for a file before printing. Pre-renders the Read get_print_queue Check the print queue for a specific printer or all printers. Shows pending and active pri Read list_printers List all available printers on the system with their status. Returns printer names, states

All 8 MCP Printer Server tools →

Read tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server get_torrent_detail YouTube MCP Server search_channel Android Forensics ADB MCP Server parse_browser_history 0xarchive web3_challenge

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about get_default_printer

What does the get_default_printer tool do? +

Get the name of the default printer. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Printer Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on get_default_printer? +

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

What risk level is get_default_printer? +

get_default_printer is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit get_default_printer? +

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

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

get_default_printer is provided by the MCP Printer Server MCP server (steveclarke/mcp-printer). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every MCP Printer Server tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →