describe
Describes a Kubernetes resource with detailed information.
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-dave-london-docker/describe.md
What describe does on Docker
AI agents call describe to retrieve information from Docker without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why describe is rated Low
This tool queries and returns information about Kubernetes resources (equivalent to 'kubectl describe'). It has no side effects, does not modify data, execute code, delete resources, or affect financial systems. The operation is purely informational retrieval, making it a Read category risk with low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'describe' and description 'Describes a Kubernetes resource with detailed information' indicate a read-only operation that retrieves and displays information about existing resources without modification.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs describe safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Docker, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For describe, this is the rule to start with:
describe 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 Docker, apply this rule, and every describe call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about describe
Describes a Kubernetes resource with detailed information. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Docker MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Docker MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for describe: 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 Docker. Nothing to install.
describe 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 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. 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 is provided by the Docker MCP server (@paretools/docker). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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