activate_skill · Friday MCP Server MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What activate_skill does on Friday MCP Server

AI agents invoke activate_skill to trigger actions in Friday MCP Server. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why activate_skill needs a policy

Activating a skill causes installed code to run or become operational. Given the server supports 'self-extension via markdown-based skills' and has tools like install_skill_from_markdown/url, activating a skill is effectively enabling execution of arbitrary installed code. This falls under Execute since it triggers external operations whose effects depend on what the skill does.

From the tool's definition 'Activate an installed skill' — activating a skill triggers execution of previously installed code/functionality

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

activate_skill Rate-limited

activate_skill stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "activate_skill": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "activate_skill_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Friday MCP Server, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about activate_skill

What does the activate_skill tool do? +

Activate an installed skill. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Friday MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on activate_skill? +

Register the Friday MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for activate_skill: 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 Friday MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is activate_skill? +

activate_skill is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit activate_skill? +

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

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

activate_skill is provided by the Friday MCP Server MCP server (jeremylakeyjr/mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.