Low Risk

hosts_list

List all managed /etc/hosts entries added via Kali-MCP.

How to control hosts_list ↓

AI agents call hosts_list to retrieve information from Zebbern Kali MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

This tool performs a simple enumeration of DNS/host configuration data. It retrieves information (a read operation) with no side effects, no code execution, no data modification, and no destructive capabilities. The scope is limited to displaying already-configured entries.

From the tool's definition Tool name and description: 'List all managed /etc/hosts entries added via Kali-MCP' — a read-only operation that retrieves and queries existing host entries without modification, deletion, or execution of arbitrary commands.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access hosts_list gives an agent:

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Zebbern Kali MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for hosts_list:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "hosts_list": {}
  }
}

hosts_list is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register Zebbern Kali MCP — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

Go deeper

What does the hosts_list tool do? +

List all managed /etc/hosts entries added via Kali-MCP. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Zebbern Kali MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on hosts_list? +

Register the Zebbern Kali MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for hosts_list: 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 Zebbern Kali MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is hosts_list? +

hosts_list is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit hosts_list? +

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

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

hosts_list is provided by the Zebbern Kali MCP server (zebbern/zebbern-kali-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Zebbern Kali MCP tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 128 Zebbern Kali MCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

Free to start. No card required.

128 Zebbern Kali MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

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