Get Excel running status, open workbooks, and their sheets.
AI agents call get_excel_info to retrieve information from Excel 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 metadata about the current state of Excel and its open documents without modifying data, executing code, or triggering external operations. It is purely informational, typical of a 'get' or 'list' operation. While the sibling tools include destructive operations (execute_vba, write_cells), this specific tool only reads state information, placing it firmly in the Read category with low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool queries Excel's running status, lists open workbooks, and enumerates sheets—all read-only operations with no modification or execution described.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get Excel running status, open workbooks, and their sheets. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Excel MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Excel MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_excel_info: 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 Excel MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_excel_info 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_excel_info 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_excel_info. 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_excel_info is provided by the Excel MCP Server MCP server (kousunh/excel-mcp-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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