# update_work_item

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

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `update_work_item`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/update-work-item

## Facts

- Tool: `update_work_item`
- Server: Gitlab Mcp (`@zereight/mcp-gitlab`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp.md
- Install: `npx -y @zereight/mcp-gitlab`
- Homepage: https://github.com/zereight/gitlab-mcp
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "update_work_item",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## 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 own 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."

## Use case

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.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Gitlab Mcp:

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

## Other tools on Gitlab Mcp (214)

- `cancel_pipeline_job` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/cancel-pipeline-job.md
- `delete_branch` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-branch.md
- `delete_draft_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-draft-note.md
- `delete_group_variable` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-group-variable.md
- `delete_group_wiki_page` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-group-wiki-page.md
- `delete_issue` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-issue.md
- `delete_issue_emoji_reaction` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-issue-emoji-reaction.md
- `delete_issue_link` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-issue-link.md
- `delete_issue_note_emoji_reaction` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-issue-note-emoji-reaction.md
- `delete_label` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-label.md
- `delete_merge_request_discussion_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-merge-request-discussion-note.md
- `delete_merge_request_emoji_reaction` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-merge-request-emoji-reaction.md
- `delete_merge_request_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-merge-request-note.md
- `delete_merge_request_note_emoji_reaction` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-merge-request-note-emoji-reaction.md
- `delete_milestone` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-milestone.md
- `delete_project_variable` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-project-variable.md
- `delete_release` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-release.md
- `delete_tag` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-tag.md
- `delete_wiki_page` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-wiki-page.md
- `delete_work_item_emoji_reaction` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-work-item-emoji-reaction.md
- `delete_work_item_note_emoji_reaction` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/delete-work-item-note-emoji-reaction.md
- `omg_clear_state` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/omg-clear-state.md
- `omg_delete_memory` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/omg-delete-memory.md
- `purge_dependency_proxy_cache` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/purge-dependency-proxy-cache.md
- `unprotect_branch` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/unprotect-branch.md
- `cancel_pipeline` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/cancel-pipeline.md
- `create_pipeline` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/create-pipeline.md
- `execute_graphql` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/execute-graphql.md
- `omg_next_phase` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/omg-next-phase.md
- `play_pipeline_job` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp/play-pipeline-job.md
- …and 184 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-zereight-gitlab-mcp