manage_models
List, create, and modify Anki note types, including fields, templates, and CSS styling. Use this for schema/template work, not for individual note content, decks, or review scheduling. All operations except
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-arielbk-anki-mcp/manage-models.md
What manage_models does on Anki
AI agents use manage_models to create or update resources in Anki, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Anki environment.
Why manage_models is rated Medium
The tool performs reversible modifications to Anki note type definitions (fields, templates, CSS). These are creations and updates rather than deletions or destructive operations. The impact is high because modifying note type schemas could affect how existing cards render and behave across a deck, but changes can be reverted.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states it can 'List, create, and modify Anki note types, including fields, templates, and CSS styling.' The verbs 'create' and 'modify' indicate write operations on schema/template objects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs manage_models safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Anki, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For manage_models, this is the rule to start with:
manage_models 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.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Anki, apply this rule, and every manage_models call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about manage_models
List, create, and modify Anki note types, including fields, templates, and CSS styling. Use this for schema/template work, not for individual note content, decks, or review scheduling. All operations except. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Anki MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Anki MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for manage_models: 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 Anki. Nothing to install.
manage_models is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the manage_models 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 manage_models. 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.
manage_models is provided by the Anki MCP server (@arielbk/anki-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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