AI agents call top_talkers 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 queries and retrieves summary statistics from existing network capture data without any capability to modify, delete, execute operations, or affect financial systems. It fits the Read category as a data retrieval/query function.
From the tool's definition Tool description indicates 'Get top N values for a field by session count' which retrieves and aggregates network session data. The verb 'Get' and the context of querying historical packet capture data for analysis purposes confirms read-only behavior.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get top N values for a field by session count. Useful for finding the most. 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 top_talkers: 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.
top_talkers 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 top_talkers 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 top_talkers. 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.
top_talkers 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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