AI agents call get_menu_item_state to retrieve information from Mac without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only reads the state of a menu item (enabled/checked status). It performs no modifications, does not execute code or commands, and cannot cause destructive or financial harm. It is a straightforward information retrieval operation consistent with the Read category.
From the tool's definition Tool name and description indicate it 'Gets the enabled/checked state of a menu item' — a pure query operation with no side effects. It retrieves UI state information without modifying, executing, or deleting anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Gets the enabled/checked state of a menu item. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mac MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Mac MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_menu_item_state: 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 Mac. Nothing to install.
get_menu_item_state 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_menu_item_state 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_menu_item_state. 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_menu_item_state is provided by the Mac MCP server (laststance/mac-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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