create_access_key

THE RISK

Medium Risk

Why create_access_key needs a policy

Creating an access key generates new AWS credentials that can be used to authenticate to AWS services. This is a reversible write operation (keys can be deleted), not a read (retrieves data), execute (runs code), destructive (deletes irreversibly), or financial action. However, misuse by an AI agent could grant unauthorized programmatic access to AWS resources, making it high-severity.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'create_access_key' indicates creation of AWS credentials. The tool appears to operate on an AWS IAM-related operation based on context (sibling tools include 'add_inline_policy' and 'add_user_to_group').

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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs, 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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs — 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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs 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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs 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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs 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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs 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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs. 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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs MCP server (awslabs.amazon-sns-sqs-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 Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs tool call.

Start from Awslabs Amazon Sns Sqs, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →