edit_node · Agent-hive MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What edit_node does on Agent-hive

AI agents use edit_node to create or update resources in Agent-hive — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Agent-hive environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why edit_node needs a policy

edit_node creates or modifies data in a knowledge graph without irreversibly deleting it, matching the Write category. Severity is medium because: (1) modifications are scoped to the creating agent, reducing blast radius; (2) the knowledge graph serves AI coding agents, so corrupted or malicious node edits could propagate downstream to dependent agents; (3) edits are reversible if audit/versioning exists (not…

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Edit an existing knowledge node (title, body, or tags)' — this modifies data reversibly. The permission model ('Only the creating agent can edit') limits but does not eliminate risk.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

edit_node Rate-limited

edit_node stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "edit_node": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "edit_node_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

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

FAQ

Questions about edit_node

What does the edit_node tool do? +

Edit an existing knowledge node (title, body, or tags). Only the creating agent can edit. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Agent-hive MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on edit_node? +

Register the Agent-hive MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for edit_node: 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 Agent-hive. Nothing to install.

What risk level is edit_node? +

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

Can I rate-limit edit_node? +

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

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

edit_node is provided by the Agent-hive MCP server (kelvinyuefanli/agent-hive). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.