update_issue

Update an existing Linear issue

SERVERLinear SOURCE@linear-mcp-server

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 120 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade D, identity verified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/linear/update-issue.md

WHAT IT DOES

What update_issue does on Linear

AI agents use update_issue to create or update resources in Linear, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Linear environment.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`id`	string	—	The issue ID
`cycle`	string	—	The cycle name, number, or ID
`links`	array	—	Array of link objects to attach to the issue. Each object must contain a valid `url` and a non-empty `title`.
`state`	string	—	The issue state type, name, or ID
`title`	string	—	The issue title
`labels`	array	—	Array of label names or IDs to set on the issue (you can use label names directly, no need to look up IDs)
`dueDate`	string	—	The due date for the issue in ISO format
`project`	string	—	The project name or ID to add the issue to
`assignee`	string	—	The assignee name, displayName, or ID to assign
`delegate`	string	—	The agent name, displayName, or ID to delegate
`estimate`	number	—	The numerical issue estimate value
`parentId`	string	—	The parent issue ID, if this is a sub-issue

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

RISK

Why update_issue is rated Medium

This tool modifies an existing issue entity in Linear, which is a reversible operation. Updates can typically be undone or corrected with subsequent edits. This places it in the Write category rather than Destructive (which would be for deletion/purging).

From the tool's definition Tool name 'update_issue' and description 'Update an existing Linear issue' indicate modification of existing data without deletion or irreversible destruction.

Risk signalsAccepts URL/endpoint input (links[].url) · High parameter count (16 properties)

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs update_issue safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Linear, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For update_issue, this is the rule to start with:

update_issue Rate-limited

update_issue 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": {
    "update_issue": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "update_issue_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Linear, apply this rule, and every update_issue call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about update_issue

What does the update_issue tool do? +

Update an existing Linear issue. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Linear MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

What parameters does update_issue accept? +

update_issue accepts 12 parameters: id, cycle, links, state, title, labels, dueDate, project, assignee, delegate, estimate, parentId. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.

How do I enforce a policy on update_issue? +

Register the Linear MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for update_issue: 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 Linear. Nothing to install.

What risk level is update_issue? +

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

Can I rate-limit update_issue? +

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

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

update_issue is provided by the Linear MCP server (@linear-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

KEEP EXPLORING

More on Linear, and thousands of servers like it.

This server

All 66 Linear tools →

Across the catalogue

aroflo_create_or_update_record on AroFlo MCP →team_manager_update_budget on Team Manager MCP → The MCP Attack Database →

Guides

Govern customer-ops agents →Argument validation →Scoped token →