Get detailed information about a specific award using its ID
AI agents call get_award_details to retrieve information from USASpending 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 returns information about federal contract awards without modifying, executing, deleting, or creating any data. It is a straightforward query operation with no side effects. The severity is low because retrieving public federal spending information poses minimal risk even if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_award_details' and description 'Get detailed information about a specific award using its ID' indicate a data retrieval operation that queries the USASpending.gov API for information about an existing award.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get detailed information about a specific award using its ID. It is categorised as a Read tool in the USASpending MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the USASpending MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_award_details: 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 USASpending MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_award_details 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_award_details 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_award_details. 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_award_details is provided by the USASpending MCP Server MCP server (khowabunga/usaspending-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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