Low Risk

string_get_range

Get substring. Args: key: The name of the key start: Start index (inclusive) end: End index (inclusive) Returns: Substring or error message

How to control string_get_range ↓

What string_get_range does on AWS

AI agents call string_get_range to retrieve information from AWS without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

Why string_get_range needs a policy

This tool retrieves a substring from a stored string value without modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is a pure read operation with no side effects. Severity is low because substring extraction has minimal blast radius even if misused by an agent.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'string_get_range' and description 'Get substring' with read-only arguments (key, start, end indices) and return of substring data. No mutation, deletion, or execution involved.

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

How to control string_get_range

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 string_get_range:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "string_get_range": {}
  }
}

string_get_range is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  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 string_get_range

What does the string_get_range tool do? +

Get substring. Args: key: The name of the key start: Start index (inclusive) end: End index (inclusive) Returns: Substring or error message. It is categorised as a Read tool in the AWS MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on string_get_range? +

Register the AWS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for string_get_range: 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 string_get_range? +

string_get_range is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit string_get_range? +

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

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

string_get_range 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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