Decrement a counter in the cache. Args: key: The key to decrement value: Amount to decrement by (default 1) Returns: New value or error message
AI agents use cache_decr to create or update resources in AWS — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your AWS environment.
This tool modifies an existing value in the cache by decrementing a counter. It is a write operation (mutates state) but is generally reversible (the counter can be incremented back). Misuse could corrupt application state or logic that depends on cache counters, hence medium severity.
From the tool's definition Decrement a counter in the cache
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access cache_decr gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and AWS, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for cache_decr:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"cache_decr": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "cache_decr_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}cache_decr 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.
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Decrement a counter in the cache. Args: key: The key to decrement value: Amount to decrement by (default 1) Returns: New value or error message. It is categorised as a Write tool in the AWS MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the AWS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for cache_decr: 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 AWS. Nothing to install.
cache_decr is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the cache_decr 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 cache_decr. 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.
cache_decr is provided by the AWS MCP server (@awslabs/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from AWS, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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300 AWS tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.