Get a list of common work item states.
AI agents call get_available_states to retrieve information from Azure DevOps MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a simple data retrieval operation to list available work item states, which is read-only metadata lookup. There are no side effects, no data modification, no code execution, and no destructive or financial operations involved. The blast radius of misuse is minimal since the information returned is non-sensitive configuration data.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_available_states' and description states 'Get a list of common work item states' — this retrieves state metadata with no modification or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get a list of common work item states. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Azure DevOps MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Azure DevOps MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_available_states: 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 Azure DevOps MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_available_states 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 get_available_states 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 get_available_states. 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.
get_available_states is provided by the Azure DevOps MCP Server MCP server (jhlia0/azure-devops-mcp). 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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