Get work items by state category (active, completed, review).
AI agents call get_work_items_by_state_category 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 retrieves and filters work items based on state category without modifying, deleting, or executing external operations. It is a read-only query with minimal blast radius—misuse would at worst expose work item metadata already accessible within Azure DevOps.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_work_items_by_state_category' and description 'Get work items by state category' indicate data retrieval only. The verb 'get' and absence of modification language confirm this is a query operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get work items by state category (active, completed, review). 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_work_items_by_state_category: 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_work_items_by_state_category 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_work_items_by_state_category 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_work_items_by_state_category. 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_work_items_by_state_category 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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