Create a link between two work items. Common link types: System.LinkTypes.Hierarchy-Reverse (parent), System.LinkTypes.Hierarchy-Forward (child), System.LinkTypes.Related, System.LinkTypes.Dependency-Forward (successor).
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AI agents use link_work_items to create or modify resources in Azure Boards MCP. Write operations carry medium risk because an autonomous agent could trigger bulk unintended modifications. Rate limits prevent a single agent session from making hundreds of changes in rapid succession. Argument validation ensures the agent passes expected values.
Without a policy, an AI agent could call link_work_items repeatedly, creating or modifying resources faster than any human could review. PolicyLayer's rate limiting ensures write operations happen at a controlled pace, and argument validation catches malformed or unexpected inputs before they reach Azure Boards MCP.
Write tools can modify data. A rate limit prevents runaway bulk operations from AI agents.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"link_work_items": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "link_work_items_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}See the full Azure Boards MCP policy for all 52 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access link_work_items gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other write tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: rate-limit and validate the arguments.
Create a link between two work items. Common link types: System.LinkTypes.Hierarchy-Reverse (parent), System.LinkTypes.Hierarchy-Forward (child), System.LinkTypes.Related, System.LinkTypes.Dependency-Forward (successor).. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Azure Boards MCP MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Azure Boards MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for link_work_items: 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 Azure Boards MCP. Nothing to install.
link_work_items 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 link_work_items 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 link_work_items. 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.
link_work_items is provided by the Azure Boards MCP server (azure-board-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 52 Azure Boards MCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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