Retrieve a database in Notion
AI agents call notion_retrieve_database to retrieve information from Notion MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The verb 'retrieve' combined with the absence of any modification keywords (create, update, delete, append) confirms this is a query operation. It retrieves existing data with no side effects. Severity is low because unauthorized read access to database metadata poses minimal immediate risk compared to write, destructive, or financial operations.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'notion_retrieve_database' and description 'Retrieve a database in Notion' indicate a read-only operation that fetches database metadata/structure without modification.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Retrieve a database in Notion. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Notion MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Notion MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for notion_retrieve_database: 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 Notion MCP Server. Nothing to install.
notion_retrieve_database 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 notion_retrieve_database 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 notion_retrieve_database. 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.
notion_retrieve_database is provided by the Notion MCP Server MCP server (kimjungyeol/mcp-notion-server). 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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