Medium Risk

untag_resource

untag_resource

How to control untag_resource ↓

What untag_resource does on AWS

AI agents use untag_resource 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.

Medium Risk

Why untag_resource needs a policy

Based on the name alone, 'untag_resource' likely removes tags from an AWS resource. Tag removal is a reversible modification (tags can be re-added), placing it in the Write category. However, the empty description lowers confidence. Severity is medium because removing tags can affect resource management, cost allocation, and access policies (especially tag-based IAM policies), but is generally recoverable.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'untag_resource' — no description provided.

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

How to control untag_resource

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 untag_resource:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "untag_resource": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "untag_resource_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

untag_resource 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.

  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.
LIMIT THIS TOOL →

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Related tools and policies

Go deeper

Questions about untag_resource

What does the untag_resource tool do? +

untag_resource. 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.

How do I enforce a policy on untag_resource? +

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

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

Can I rate-limit untag_resource? +

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

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

untag_resource 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.

Free to start. No card required.

300 AWS tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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