stop-instance · Android MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What stop-instance does on Android

AI agents invoke stop-instance to trigger actions in Android. 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.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why stop-instance needs a policy

stop-instance triggers real processes with real consequences. An agent gone sideways doesn't fire it once — it starts dozens of builds, sends mass notifications, or burns through compute before anyone looks up.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

stop-instance Rate-limited

stop-instance 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "stop-instance": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "stop-instance_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Android, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about stop-instance

What does the stop-instance tool do? +

Stop a Compute Engine instance. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Android MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on stop-instance? +

Register the Android MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for stop-instance: 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 Android. Nothing to install.

What risk level is stop-instance? +

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

Can I rate-limit stop-instance? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the stop-instance 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 stop-instance completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for stop-instance. 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 stop-instance? +

stop-instance is provided by the Android MCP server (tomdwipo/agent). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.