tab_select · It2 MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What tab_select does on It2mcp

AI agents invoke tab_select 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 tab_select needs a policy

Selecting a tab in a terminal emulator is an external operation that changes application state (focus/active session). While it doesn't directly run commands or delete data, it controls which terminal session is active, which could be a precursor to further actions. It falls under Execute as it triggers an external operation (iTerm2 UI control) beyond simple data retrieval or writing.

From the tool's definition Select a tab by its ID or numeric index — triggers a UI/session action in iTerm2 that changes the active terminal tab

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

tab_select Rate-limited

tab_select 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": {
    "tab_select": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "tab_select_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 tab_select

What does the tab_select tool do? +

Select a tab by its ID or numeric index. 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 tab_select? +

Register the It2 MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for tab_select: 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 tab_select? +

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

Can I rate-limit tab_select? +

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

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

tab_select 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.