send_notification · Mac MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What send_notification does on Mac

AI agents invoke send_notification to trigger actions in Mac. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why send_notification needs a policy

This tool triggers an external operation (displaying a system notification) that depends on arguments. It doesn't read data, write persistent data, delete anything, or move money. It interacts with the macOS notification system, making it an Execute category tool. Severity is low because notifications are ephemeral and harmless, though they could be used for social engineering or spam.

From the tool's definition Displays a macOS notification with title, optional message, subtitle, and sound

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

send_notification Rate-limited

send_notification stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "send_notification": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "send_notification_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

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

FAQ

Questions about send_notification

What does the send_notification tool do? +

Displays a macOS notification with title, optional message, subtitle, and sound. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Mac MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on send_notification? +

Register the Mac MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for send_notification: 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.

What risk level is send_notification? +

send_notification is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit send_notification? +

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

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

send_notification 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.