Low Risk

check_auth

Check if you are authenticated with Brightspace. Run the brightspace-auth CLI first to authenticate. Use this when the user asks if they're logged in, if authentication is working, or when other tools return auth errors.

Part of the Brightspace MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

AI agents call check_auth to retrieve information from Brightspace without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.

Even though check_auth only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.

Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.

brightspace.yaml
tools:
  check_auth:
    rules:
      - action: allow

See the full Brightspace policy for all 12 tools.

Tool Name check_auth
Category Read
Risk Level Low

View all 12 tools →

Agents calling read-class tools like check_auth have been implicated in these attack patterns. Read the full case and prevention policy for each:

Browse the full MCP Attack Database →

Other tools in the Read risk category across the catalogue. The same policy patterns (rate-limit, allow) apply to each.

What does the check_auth tool do? +

Check if you are authenticated with Brightspace. Run the brightspace-auth CLI first to authenticate. Use this when the user asks if they're logged in, if authentication is working, or when other tools return auth errors.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Brightspace MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on check_auth? +

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for check_auth. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the Brightspace MCP server.

What risk level is check_auth? +

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

Can I rate-limit check_auth? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the check_auth rule in your Intercept 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 check_auth completely? +

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for check_auth. 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 check_auth? +

check_auth is provided by the Brightspace MCP server (brightspace-mcp-server). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Let agents act without letting them run wild.

Deterministic policy on every MCP tool call. Per-identity grants. Full audit log.

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