Download media (image, audio, video, document) from a WhatsApp message. Fetches the media attached to a specific message and returns it directly: - Images: returned inline so Claude can see them - Audio: returned inline so Claude can process them - Video/documents: saved to /tmp/whatsapp-media/ a...
AI agents call whatsapp_download_media to retrieve information from Waha without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and returns data without side effects. While it accesses user data (potentially sensitive media content), the action is read-only. The severity is low because downloading media does not modify systems, execute code, delete data, or cause financial impact; the primary risk is information disclosure if the AI agent downloads sensitive media without authorization, but the tool itself is…
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states 'Download media' and 'Fetches the media attached to a specific message and returns it directly'. No modification, deletion, or execution occurs—it purely retrieves existing data from WhatsApp messages.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Download media (image, audio, video, document) from a WhatsApp message. Fetches the media attached to a specific message and returns it directly: - Images: returned inline so Claude can see them - Audio: returned inline so Claude can process them - Video/documents: saved to /tmp/whatsapp-media/ and path returned Use whatsapp_read_messages first to find messages with hasMedia=true, then pass the contactId and messageId here. Note: Old media (weeks+) may no longer be available on WhatsApp. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Waha MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Waha MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for whatsapp_download_media: 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 Waha. Nothing to install.
whatsapp_download_media 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 whatsapp_download_media 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 whatsapp_download_media. 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.
whatsapp_download_media is provided by the Waha MCP server (@marcos-heidemann/waha-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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