AI agents invoke send_input to trigger actions in Interactive Automation MCP Server. 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.
The tool name 'send_input' combined with the server context (terminal automation, SSH sessions, interactive program control) strongly suggests this sends keystrokes/commands to running terminal sessions or interactive programs. This constitutes execution of arbitrary commands in live environments.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'send_input' on a server designed for 'expect/pexpect-style automation for interactive programs, supporting complex interactions with terminal programs, SSH sessions, databases, and debugging workflows'
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access send_input gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Interactive Automation MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for send_input:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"send_input": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "send_input_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 10,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
} send_input 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.
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send_input. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Interactive Automation MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the Interactive Automation MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for send_input: 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 Interactive Automation MCP Server. Nothing to install.
send_input is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the send_input 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 send_input. 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.
send_input is provided by the Interactive Automation MCP Server MCP server (wehnsdaefflae/terminal-control-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Interactive Automation MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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6 Interactive Automation MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.