manage_link

Manage item-channel links. action: list, link, unlink, configure (apply a link profile).

SERVEROpenhab SOURCEdeswong/openhab-mcp

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/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-link.md

WHAT IT DOES

What manage_link does on Openhab

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

RISK

Why manage_link is rated Medium

Item-channel links are foundational to OpenHAB's automation and control flow. Misconfigured or malicious linking could redirect sensor inputs, trigger unexpected automations, or disrupt device communication. While reversible, the high impact on system behavior and potential for cascading failures across automation rules justifies 'high' severity.

From the tool's definition Tool performs reversible actions: 'link, unlink, configure' on item-channel associations. Unlink and configure modify system state; link creates new bindings.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs manage_link safely

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

manage_link Rate-limited

manage_link 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": {
    "manage_link": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "manage_link_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 Openhab, apply this rule, and every manage_link call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about manage_link

What does the manage_link tool do? +

Manage item-channel links. action: list, link, unlink, configure (apply a link profile). It is categorised as a Write tool in the Openhab MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on manage_link? +

Register the Openhab MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for manage_link: 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 Openhab. Nothing to install.

What risk level is manage_link? +

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

Can I rate-limit manage_link? +

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

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

manage_link is provided by the Openhab MCP server (deswong/openhab-mcp). 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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