Critical Risk →

json_del

Delete value at path. Args: key: The name of the key path: The path in the JSON document Returns: Success message or error message

How to control json_del ↓

What json_del does on AWS

AI agents call json_del to permanently remove resources in AWS — typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.

Critical Risk

Why json_del needs a policy

This tool permanently removes data from a JSON document. Deletion is an irreversible operation that cannot be undone, meeting the definition of Destructive. While the blast radius depends on what JSON data is being modified, the inherent capability to delete arbitrary values at specified paths in production data (likely AWS configuration or state) represents a high-severity risk if misused by an AI agent.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'json_del' combined with description 'Delete value at path' explicitly performs deletion. The function removes data from a JSON document at a specified path, which is irreversible.

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

How to control json_del

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 json_del:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "json_del"
  ]
}

json_del disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.

  1. Create a free account and register AWS — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Related tools and policies

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Questions about json_del

What does the json_del tool do? +

Delete value at path. Args: key: The name of the key path: The path in the JSON document Returns: Success message or error message. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the AWS MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.

How do I enforce a policy on json_del? +

Register the AWS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for json_del: 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.

What risk level is json_del? +

json_del is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.

Can I rate-limit json_del? +

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

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

json_del 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.

Enforce policy on every AWS tool call.

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.

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