startTask

Start a task (change status to in_progress)\n\n

SERVERTask Orchestrator SOURCE108yen/task-orchestrator-mcp

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade D, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/108yen-task-orchestrator-mcp/starttask.md

WHAT IT DOES

What startTask does on Task Orchestrator

AI agents use startTask to create or update resources in Task Orchestrator, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Task Orchestrator environment.

RISK

Why startTask is rated Medium

This tool updates a task's status to 'in_progress', which is a reversible state change (a write/update operation). It does not delete data, execute code, or involve financial transactions. The severity is medium because misuse could disrupt task orchestration workflows by incorrectly marking tasks as started.

From the tool's definition 'Start a task (change status to in_progress)' — the tool modifies the status field of an existing task record

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs startTask safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Task Orchestrator, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For startTask, this is the rule to start with:

startTask Rate-limited

startTask stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "startTask": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "starttask_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Task Orchestrator, apply this rule, and every startTask call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about startTask

What does the startTask tool do? +

Start a task (change status to in_progress)\n\n. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Task Orchestrator MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on startTask? +

Register the Task Orchestrator MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for startTask: 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 Task Orchestrator. Nothing to install.

What risk level is startTask? +

startTask is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit startTask? +

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

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

startTask is provided by the Task Orchestrator MCP server (108yen/task-orchestrator-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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