update_work_item

Update a work item (title, description, labels, assignees, state, parent, custom fields, etc.)

SERVERGitlab Mcp SOURCE@zereight/mcp-gitlab

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/update-work-item.md

WHAT IT DOES

What update_work_item does on Gitlab Mcp

AI agents use update_work_item to create or update resources in Gitlab Mcp, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Gitlab Mcp environment.

RISK

Why update_work_item is rated Medium

This tool modifies work item metadata (title, description, labels, assignees, state, parent, custom fields) without deleting or destroying data. Changes are reversible through subsequent updates. The blast radius is medium because an AI agent could misdirect work items, change assignments, or alter states in ways that disrupt team workflows, but no data is lost and corrections are possible.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'update_work_item' and description states it 'Update[s] a work item (title, description, labels, assignees, state, parent, custom fields, etc.)' — modifies existing data fields in a reversible manner.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs update_work_item safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Gitlab Mcp, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For update_work_item, this is the rule to start with:

update_work_item Rate-limited

update_work_item 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

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

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Gitlab Mcp, apply this rule, and every update_work_item call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about update_work_item

What does the update_work_item tool do? +

Update a work item (title, description, labels, assignees, state, parent, custom fields, etc.). It is categorised as a Write tool in the Gitlab Mcp MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on update_work_item? +

Register the Gitlab MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for update_work_item: 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 Gitlab Mcp. Nothing to install.

What risk level is update_work_item? +

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

Can I rate-limit update_work_item? +

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

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

update_work_item is provided by the Gitlab MCP server (@zereight/mcp-gitlab). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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