create_access_key

THE RISK

Medium Risk

Why create_access_key needs a policy

This tool creates new IAM access keys, which are reversible Write operations (access keys can be deleted/rotated). However, it carries high severity because misused access keys could grant unauthorized AWS resource access. While not Financial or Destructive in themselves, their creation represents a significant security boundary change.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'create_access_key' which creates AWS access credentials. The tool name and context (AWS EKS MCP server) indicate it creates new security credentials that grant programmatic access to AWS resources.

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

POLICY

How to control create_access_key

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

policy.json

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

create_access_key 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.

Create a free account and register Amazon EKS MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Amazon EKS MCP Server tools

Destructive bulk_delete_by_criteria bulk_delete_by_criteria Destructive cache_delete Delete a value from the cache. Destructive cache_delete_many Delete multiple values from the cache. Destructive cache_delete_multi Delete multiple values from the cache (alias for delete_many). Destructive delete delete Destructive delete_access_key delete_access_key Destructive delete_agent_runtime delete_agent_runtime Destructive delete_agent_runtime_endpoint delete_agent_runtime_endpoint

All 805 Amazon EKS MCP Server tools →

Write tools on other servers

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Go deeper

Govern customer-ops agents → PII redaction, approval on external messages, and no-bulk-delete rules on the records agents change.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Argument validation → Checking tool call arguments against schema and policy before they run.
Scoped token → Per-person credentials that grant a defined subset of servers and tools.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →
PolicyLayer vs alternatives → How deterministic, per-call MCP policy compares with gateways, identity layers, and authorisation platforms.

FAQ

Questions about create_access_key

What does the create_access_key tool do? +

create_access_key. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Amazon EKS MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on create_access_key? +

Register the Amazon EKS MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for create_access_key: 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 Amazon EKS MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is create_access_key? +

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

Can I rate-limit create_access_key? +

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

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

create_access_key is provided by the Amazon EKS MCP Server MCP server (awslabs.eks-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Amazon EKS MCP Server tool call.

Start from Amazon EKS MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →