session_focus · It2 MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What session_focus does on It2mcp

AI agents invoke session_focus to trigger actions in It2mcp. 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 session_focus needs a policy

Focusing/activating a session triggers an external UI operation in iTerm2, changing which terminal session is active. This is not a pure read (it has a side effect on application state) and not a write to data. It is an external operation that controls a terminal application, fitting the Execute category. Misuse could redirect attention or input to an unintended session.

From the tool's definition Focus (activate) a specific iTerm2 session

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

session_focus Rate-limited

session_focus 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": {
    "session_focus": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "session_focus_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 It2mcp, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about session_focus

What does the session_focus tool do? +

Focus (activate) a specific iTerm2 session. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the It2mcp MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on session_focus? +

Register the It2 MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for session_focus: 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 It2mcp. Nothing to install.

What risk level is session_focus? +

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

Can I rate-limit session_focus? +

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

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

session_focus is provided by the It2 MCP server (urjitbhatia/it2mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.