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vscode_open_context_menu

Open a context menu (right-click menu) on an element.

How to control vscode_open_context_menu ↓

What vscode_open_context_menu does on VSCode Automation MCP

AI agents invoke vscode_open_context_menu to trigger actions in VSCode Automation MCP. 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.

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Why vscode_open_context_menu needs a policy

This tool triggers a UI interaction (right-click/context menu) on a VSCode element. It performs a browser/UI action that could expose further operations depending on which element is targeted. The effect depends on the element argument — it doesn't read or write data directly, but executes a UI gesture that can trigger various downstream actions.

From the tool's definition Open a context menu (right-click menu) on an element

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

How to control vscode_open_context_menu

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

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "vscode_open_context_menu": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "vscode_open_context_menu_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

vscode_open_context_menu 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.

  1. Create a free account and register VSCode Automation MCP — 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 vscode_open_context_menu

What does the vscode_open_context_menu tool do? +

Open a context menu (right-click menu) on an element. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the VSCode Automation MCP MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on vscode_open_context_menu? +

Register the VSCode Automation MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for vscode_open_context_menu: 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 VSCode Automation MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is vscode_open_context_menu? +

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

Can I rate-limit vscode_open_context_menu? +

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

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

vscode_open_context_menu is provided by the VSCode Automation MCP server (sukarth/vscode-automation-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every VSCode Automation MCP tool call.

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

Free to start. No card required.

61 VSCode Automation MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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