Analyze a local pcap/pcapng file. LLMs control all analysis parameters including filters, output formats, and custom fields. Can use saved configurations.
AI agents call analyze_pcap_file to retrieve information from SharkMCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and queries packet capture data from files, applying various filters and formatting to examine network traffic. While the severity is elevated to 'medium' rather than 'low' because pcap files often contain sensitive network information (credentials, private communications, session tokens), the tool itself performs no side effects—it does not modify, delete, or execute code.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Analyze[s] a local pcap/pcapng file' with 'filters, output formats, and custom fields' but explicitly performs analysis only, not modification or deletion.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access analyze_pcap_file gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and SharkMCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for analyze_pcap_file:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"analyze_pcap_file": {}
}
}analyze_pcap_file is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
Analyze a local pcap/pcapng file. LLMs control all analysis parameters including filters, output formats, and custom fields. Can use saved configurations. It is categorised as a Read tool in the SharkMCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Shark MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for analyze_pcap_file: 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 SharkMCP. Nothing to install.
analyze_pcap_file 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 analyze_pcap_file 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 analyze_pcap_file. 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.
analyze_pcap_file is provided by the Shark MCP server (tuliperis/sharkmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 4 SharkMCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
4 SharkMCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.