Medium Risk

approval_required

Check if a tool call requires human approval before execution. Returns requires_approval=true/false with matched policy list. Set register_pending=true to create a trackable approval request with an approval_url for human review.

Part of the Agentguard server.

approval_required can modify Agentguard data, with no limits today. PolicyLayer puts allow, deny, and rate-limit rules on every call. Live in minutes.

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AI agents use approval_required to create or modify resources in Agentguard. Write operations carry medium risk because an autonomous agent could trigger bulk unintended modifications. Rate limits prevent a single agent session from making hundreds of changes in rapid succession. Argument validation ensures the agent passes expected values.

Without a policy, an AI agent could call approval_required repeatedly, creating or modifying resources faster than any human could review. PolicyLayer's rate limiting ensures write operations happen at a controlled pace, and argument validation catches malformed or unexpected inputs before they reach Agentguard.

Write tools can modify data. A rate limit prevents runaway bulk operations from AI agents.

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "approval_required": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "approval_required_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

See the full Agentguard policy for all 24 tools.

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

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These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access approval_required 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 approval_required only ever does what you allow.

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Other write tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: rate-limit and validate the arguments.

What does the approval_required tool do? +

Check if a tool call requires human approval before execution. Returns requires_approval=true/false with matched policy list. Set register_pending=true to create a trackable approval request with an approval_url for human review.. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Agentguard MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on approval_required? +

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

What risk level is approval_required? +

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

Can I rate-limit approval_required? +

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

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

approval_required is provided by the Agentguard MCP server (https://feedoracle.io/guard-oracle/mcp/). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Agentguard tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 24 Agentguard tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

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