Reassemble a stream. display_filter selects it (e.g. tcp.stream eq 3).
AI agents call follow_stream 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 reconstructs stream data from already-loaded PCAP files for analysis purposes. It performs packet inspection—a read-only operation with no side effects, data modification, code execution, or destructive capability. The display filter parameter further constrains it to passive data selection and retrieval.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'follow_stream' and description indicate it 'reassemble[s] a stream' using a display filter for packet inspection. No modification, deletion, execution, or financial operations are mentioned.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access follow_stream 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 follow_stream:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"follow_stream": {}
}
}follow_stream is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Reassemble a stream. display_filter selects it (e.g. tcp.stream eq 3). 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 follow_stream: 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.
follow_stream 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 follow_stream 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 follow_stream. 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.
follow_stream is provided by the Shark MCP server (weirdmachine64/sharkmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 30 SharkMCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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30 SharkMCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.