a11y_explain
Get the complete detail for one finding id from the last a11y_check run: every measured
This record as markdown: /tools/a11y-gate/a11y-explain.md
What a11y_explain does on A11y Gate
AI agents invoke a11y_explain to trigger actions in A11y Gate. 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.
Why a11y_explain is rated High
a11y_explain triggers real processes with real consequences. An agent gone sideways doesn't fire it once. It starts dozens of builds, sends mass notifications, or burns through compute before anyone looks up.
Risk signalsBulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs a11y_explain safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and A11y Gate, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For a11y_explain, this is the rule to start with:
a11y_explain 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.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect A11y Gate, apply this rule, and every a11y_explain call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about a11y_explain
Get the complete detail for one finding id from the last a11y_check run: every measured. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the A11y Gate MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the A11y Gate MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for a11y_explain: 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 A11y Gate. Nothing to install.
a11y_explain 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 a11y_explain 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 a11y_explain. 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.
a11y_explain is provided by the A11y Gate MCP server (Maher-Reven/a11y-gate). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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