Low Risk

variant

Variant by chr-pos-ref-alt (e.g. "1-55051215-G-A") or rsid.

Part of the Gnomad server.

variant is read-only, but an agent in a loop can still rack up calls and cost. PolicyLayer caps every call before it runs. Live in minutes.

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AI agents call variant to retrieve information from Gnomad without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.

Even though variant only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.

Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "variant": {}
  }
}

See the full Gnomad policy for all 25 tools.

Get this rule live on your own Gnomad server in minutes. PolicyLayer enforces it on every call, before it runs.

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View all 25 tools →

These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access variant gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:

Browse the full MCP Attack Database →

Every attack above starts with a tool call. PolicyLayer checks each one against your policy first, so variant only ever does what you allow.

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Other read tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: allow, with a rate cap to control cost.

What does the variant tool do? +

Variant by chr-pos-ref-alt (e.g. "1-55051215-G-A") or rsid.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Gnomad MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on variant? +

Register the Gnomad MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for variant: 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 Gnomad. Nothing to install.

What risk level is variant? +

variant is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit variant? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the variant 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.

How do I block variant completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for variant. 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.

What MCP server provides variant? +

variant is provided by the Gnomad MCP server (https://gateway.pipeworx.io/gnomad/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Gnomad tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 25 Gnomad tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

Free to start. No card required.

4,600+ MCP servers and 31,000+ tools scanned and risk-classified.

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