# sub_issue_write

Add a sub-issue to a parent issue in a GitHub repository.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `sub_issue_write`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/github/sub-issue-write

## Facts

- Tool: `sub_issue_write`
- Server: GitHub (`oci:ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:1.3.0`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/github.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade D, identity verified
- Server auth posture: gated
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 8
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `repo` | string | no | Repository name |
| `owner` | string | no | Repository owner |
| `method` | string | no | The action to perform on a single sub-issue Options are: - 'add' - add a sub-issue to a parent issue in a GitHub repository. - 'remove' - remove a sub-issue fro |
| `after_id` | number | no | The ID of the sub-issue to be prioritized after (either after_id OR before_id should be specified) |
| `before_id` | number | no | The ID of the sub-issue to be prioritized before (either after_id OR before_id should be specified) |
| `issue_number` | number | no | The number of the parent issue |
| `sub_issue_id` | number | no | The ID of the sub-issue to add. ID is not the same as issue number |
| `replace_parent` | boolean | no | When true, replaces the sub-issue's current parent issue. Use with 'add' method only. |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "sub_issue_write",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why sub_issue_write is rated Medium

This tool creates or modifies data (adding a sub-issue link) in a reversible manner. It does not delete data (not Destructive), does not execute arbitrary code (not Execute), involves no financial transactions (not Financial), and is not a read-only operation (not Read).

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name contains 'write' and description states 'Add a sub-issue', which creates a new data structure (sub-issue) within GitHub's issue tracking system."

## Use case

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

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches GitHub:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "sub_issue_write": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "sub_issue_write_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on GitHub (85)

- `delete_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/delete-file.md
- `projects_write` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/projects-write.md
- `actions_run_trigger` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/actions-run-trigger.md
- `assign_copilot_to_issue` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/assign-copilot-to-issue.md
- `actions_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/actions-get.md
- `actions_list` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/actions-list.md
- `get_code_scanning_alert` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-code-scanning-alert.md
- `get_commit` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-commit.md
- `get_copilot_job_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-copilot-job-status.md
- `get_copilot_space` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-copilot-space.md
- `get_dependabot_alert` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-dependabot-alert.md
- `get_discussion` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-discussion.md
- `get_discussion_comments` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-discussion-comments.md
- `get_file_contents` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-file-contents.md
- `get_gist` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-gist.md
- `get_global_security_advisory` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-global-security-advisory.md
- `get_job_logs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-job-logs.md
- `get_label` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-label.md
- `get_latest_release` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-latest-release.md
- `get_me` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-me.md
- `get_notification_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-notification-details.md
- `get_release_by_tag` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-release-by-tag.md
- `get_repository_tree` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-repository-tree.md
- `get_secret_scanning_alert` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-secret-scanning-alert.md
- `get_tag` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-tag.md
- `get_team_members` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-team-members.md
- `get_teams` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-teams.md
- `github_support_docs_search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/github-support-docs-search.md
- `issue_read` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/issue-read.md
- `list_branches` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/list-branches.md
- …and 55 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/github.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=github · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/github