Estimate cost impact of infrastructure changes without modifying Terraform files. Applies attribute overrides to a cloned resource set and returns a per-resource and aggregate cost diff.
AI agents call what_if to retrieve information from CloudCost MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The tool performs a hypothetical/what-if analysis on a cloned copy of resource definitions, producing cost estimates and diffs. It explicitly does not modify any Terraform files or real infrastructure, making it a pure read/query operation with no side effects.
From the tool's definition 'Estimate cost impact of infrastructure changes without modifying Terraform files' and 'Applies attribute overrides to a cloned resource set' — no actual files or infrastructure are changed; it operates on a clone and returns a cost diff.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Estimate cost impact of infrastructure changes without modifying Terraform files. Applies attribute overrides to a cloned resource set and returns a per-resource and aggregate cost diff. It is categorised as a Read tool in the CloudCost MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the CloudCost MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for what_if: 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 CloudCost MCP Server. Nothing to install.
what_if is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the what_if 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for what_if. 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_if is provided by the CloudCost MCP Server MCP server (jadenrazo/cloudcostmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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