scratchpad_write

Write a note to your session scratchpad. Use this to record progress,

SERVERCoWork OS SOURCECoWork-OS/CoWork-OS

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/cowork-os/scratchpad-write.md

WHAT IT DOES

What scratchpad_write does on CoWork OS

AI agents use scratchpad_write to create or update resources in CoWork OS, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your CoWork OS environment.

RISK

Why scratchpad_write is rated Medium

This tool creates or modifies scratchpad notes, which is a classic Write operation. The data is stored locally in the session and can be edited or deleted without permanent consequences. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could fill the scratchpad with garbage or overwrite notes, but this causes no side effects beyond the scratchpad itself and is easily reversible.

From the tool's definition Tool name contains 'write' and description states 'Write a note to your session scratchpad'. The operation creates or modifies data (a scratchpad note) in a reversible manner.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs scratchpad_write safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and CoWork OS, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For scratchpad_write, this is the rule to start with:

scratchpad_write Rate-limited

scratchpad_write 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "scratchpad_write": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "scratchpad_write_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect CoWork OS, apply this rule, and every scratchpad_write call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about scratchpad_write

What does the scratchpad_write tool do? +

Write a note to your session scratchpad. Use this to record progress,. It is categorised as a Write tool in the CoWork OS MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on scratchpad_write? +

Register the CoWork OS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for scratchpad_write: 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 CoWork OS. Nothing to install.

What risk level is scratchpad_write? +

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

Can I rate-limit scratchpad_write? +

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

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

scratchpad_write is provided by the CoWork OS MCP server (CoWork-OS/CoWork-OS). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

KEEP EXPLORING

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