describe_tool
Fetch the full description for one registered AirMCP tool after discover_tools returns a compact match.
This record as markdown: /tools/heznpc-airmcp/describe-tool.md
What describe_tool does on AirMCP
AI agents call describe_tool to retrieve information from AirMCP without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why describe_tool is rated Low
This tool retrieves descriptive information about tools; it does not create, modify, delete, execute, or commit financial resources. It is a informational read operation. The low severity reflects that an AI agent misusing this tool would only impact the accuracy of its understanding of available capabilities, with no destructive or harmful outcome.
From the tool's definition describe_tool's stated purpose is to 'Fetch the full description for one registered AirMCP tool' — a retrieval operation with no side effects. It queries metadata about other tools available on the server.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs describe_tool safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and AirMCP, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For describe_tool, this is the rule to start with:
describe_tool is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect AirMCP, apply this rule, and every describe_tool call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about describe_tool
Fetch the full description for one registered AirMCP tool after discover_tools returns a compact match. It is categorised as a Read tool in the AirMCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Air MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for describe_tool: 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 AirMCP. Nothing to install.
describe_tool is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the describe_tool 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 describe_tool. 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.
describe_tool is provided by the Air MCP server (airmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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