Combined status + analyse: filename, size, frame count, duration,
AI agents call pcap_summary 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 queries metadata and summary statistics from PCAP files. It performs no write operations, code execution, deletion, or financial transactions. The combined 'status + analyse' operations are read-only inspection activities. Blast radius is minimal—an AI agent cannot cause harm by requesting a PCAP summary.
From the tool's definition Tool provides 'filename, size, frame count, duration' summaries of PCAP files. The description indicates passive data retrieval and analysis without modification or execution of external operations.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access pcap_summary 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 pcap_summary:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"pcap_summary": {}
}
}pcap_summary is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Combined status + analyse: filename, size, frame count, duration,. 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 pcap_summary: 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.
pcap_summary 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 pcap_summary 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 pcap_summary. 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.
pcap_summary 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.