tm_pause_run · Tm MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What tm_pause_run does on Tm

AI agents invoke tm_pause_run to trigger actions in Tm. 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 tm_pause_run needs a policy

This tool executes a control action on an in-flight TrafficMorph run. Although it is not destructive (the run can be resumed) and does not delete or create data, it halts an active external operation. This is characteristic of Execute — triggering external operations whose effects depend on context (which run, what state it is in).

From the tool's definition 'Pause the in-flight run for a profile' — pauses an active load-testing or CI operation, which is an external action that affects a running process. The tool triggers an operation on an active system resource whose state changes based on invocation.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

tm_pause_run Rate-limited

tm_pause_run 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": {
    "tm_pause_run": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "tm_pause_run_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 Tm, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about tm_pause_run

What does the tm_pause_run tool do? +

Pause the in-flight run for a profile. Idempotent — when no. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Tm MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on tm_pause_run? +

Register the Tm MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for tm_pause_run: 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 Tm. Nothing to install.

What risk level is tm_pause_run? +

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

Can I rate-limit tm_pause_run? +

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

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

tm_pause_run is provided by the Tm MCP server (trafficmorph-gif/tm-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.