variable-delete
Deletes a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions variable.
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-dave-london-docker/variable-delete.md
What variable-delete does on Docker
AI agents call variable-delete to permanently remove resources in Docker, typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.
Why variable-delete is rated Critical
This tool permanently removes GitHub Actions variables without the ability to undo the operation. While not catastrophic at the infrastructure level, deletion of configuration variables can break CI/CD pipelines and cause production incidents. The action is irreversible, satisfying the Destructive category definition.
From the tool's definition Tool name contains 'delete' and description states 'Deletes a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions variable.' The verb 'deletes' indicates irreversible removal of data.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs variable-delete 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 variable-delete, this is the rule to start with:
variable-delete is removed from the agent's tool list entirely, so the agent never calls it. The rest of the server keeps working.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Docker, apply this rule, and every variable-delete call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about variable-delete
Deletes a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions variable. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Docker MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.
Register the Docker MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for variable-delete: 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.
variable-delete is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the variable-delete 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 variable-delete. 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.
variable-delete 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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