AI agents use upload_media to create or update resources in Apple Shortcuts — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Apple Shortcuts environment.
The tool creates or transfers data to an external service (Runway), which is a reversible Write operation. It doesn't execute arbitrary code, delete data, or commit financial transactions. Severity is medium because unauthorized file uploads could expose sensitive local data to external systems, but the operation itself is not destructive or irreversible.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'upload_media' and description states 'Upload a local file to Runway', indicating file creation/transmission to a remote service.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access upload_media gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Apple Shortcuts, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for upload_media:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"upload_media": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "upload_media_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}upload_media 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.
Free to start. No card required.
Upload a local file to Runway\. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Apple Shortcuts MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Apple Shortcuts MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for upload_media: 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 Apple Shortcuts. Nothing to install.
upload_media 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 upload_media 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 upload_media. 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.
upload_media is provided by the Apple Shortcuts MCP server (@mindstone/mcp-server-apple-shortcuts). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Apple Shortcuts, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
423 Apple Shortcuts tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.