manage_agent_permissions

THE RISK

Medium Risk

Why manage_agent_permissions needs a policy

The tool modifies access control configurations (grant/revoke permissions), which is a write operation with significant blast radius. It affects what agents can do system-wide but is reversible (permissions can be granted back). This is more severe than a standard Write operation due to security implications, hence high severity.

From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states it can 'Grant, revoke, or list permissions for an agent key.' Granting and revoking permissions are reversible modifications to security policy state.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access manage_agent_permissions gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control manage_agent_permissions

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Writbase, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for manage_agent_permissions:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "manage_agent_permissions": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "manage_agent_permissions_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

manage_agent_permissions 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.

Create a free account and register Writbase — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Writbase tools

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All 13 Writbase tools →

Write tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server download_torrent YouTube MCP Server generate_video_title Android Forensics ADB MCP Server combine_reports 0xarchive web3_signup

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Argument validation → Checking tool call arguments against schema and policy before they run.
Scoped token → Per-person credentials that grant a defined subset of servers and tools.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about manage_agent_permissions

What does the manage_agent_permissions tool do? +

Grant, revoke, or list permissions for an agent key. Manager only. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Writbase MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on manage_agent_permissions? +

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

What risk level is manage_agent_permissions? +

manage_agent_permissions is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit manage_agent_permissions? +

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

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

manage_agent_permissions is provided by the Writbase MCP server (https://{PROJECT_REF}.supabase.co/functions/v1/mcp-server/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Writbase tool call.

Start from Writbase, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →