federation_init · Claude Flow MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What federation_init does on Claude Flow

AI agents invoke federation_init to trigger actions in Claude Flow. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why federation_init needs a policy

This tool executes a multi-step operational process: initializing federation configuration from a manifest and launching an ongoing discovery mechanism. It is not a passive read — it actively configures the node and begins external network/agent discovery. This falls under Execute since it triggers external operations whose effects depend on the manifest arguments.

From the tool's definition 'Initialize federation on this node with a manifest and begin discovery' — triggers an initialization process and active discovery operation on the node

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

federation_init Rate-limited

federation_init stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "federation_init": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "federation_init_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Claude Flow, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about federation_init

What does the federation_init tool do? +

Initialize federation on this node with a manifest and begin discovery. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Claude Flow MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on federation_init? +

Register the Claude Flow MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for federation_init: 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 Claude Flow. Nothing to install.

What risk level is federation_init? +

federation_init is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit federation_init? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the federation_init 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 federation_init completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for federation_init. 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 federation_init? +

federation_init is provided by the Claude Flow MCP server (claude-flow). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.