append_note · Obsidian MCP Server Plugin MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What append_note does on Obsidian MCP Server Plugin

AI agents use append_note to create or update resources in Obsidian MCP Server Plugin — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Obsidian MCP Server Plugin environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why append_note needs a policy

This tool modifies an existing note by appending content to it. Appending is a reversible write operation (content can be removed), not a destructive one. The 'REQUIRES APPROVAL' flag indicates human oversight is in place, but the action itself is a Write. Severity is medium because it modifies personal notes in a vault, but the content can be manually reverted.

From the tool's definition 'Append content to a note' and 'REQUIRES APPROVAL'

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

append_note Rate-limited

append_note stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "append_note": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "append_note_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

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

FAQ

Questions about append_note

What does the append_note tool do? +

Append content to a note. REQUIRES APPROVAL. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Obsidian MCP Server Plugin MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on append_note? +

Register the Obsidian MCP Server Plugin MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for append_note: 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 Obsidian MCP Server Plugin. Nothing to install.

What risk level is append_note? +

append_note is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit append_note? +

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

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

append_note is provided by the Obsidian MCP Server Plugin MCP server (lee3604/obsidian-local-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.