AI agents call pcap_files to retrieve information from Arkime without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a read-only query operation that retrieves information about existing PCAP files without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any actions. The ability to list files with their metadata is a standard informational operation with minimal security risk, hence low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool name and description indicate listing/retrieval of PCAP file metadata (sizes, packet counts, time ranges) with no modification, deletion, or execution capabilities.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List PCAP capture files with sizes, packet counts, and time ranges. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Arkime MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Arkime MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for pcap_files: 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 Arkime. Nothing to install.
pcap_files 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 pcap_files 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 pcap_files. 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.
pcap_files is provided by the Arkime MCP server (swannman/arkime-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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