Retrieve a Notion block by ID.
AI agents call retrieve_block to retrieve information from Notion MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The retrieve operation fetches data from Notion without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any actions. The blast radius of misuse is minimal: an attacker could read unauthorized block content if they have valid block IDs, but this is limited to information disclosure.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'retrieve_block' and description states 'Retrieve a Notion block by ID' — this is a direct query operation with no modifications or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Retrieve a Notion block by ID. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Notion MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Notion MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for retrieve_block: 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 Notion MCP Server. Nothing to install.
retrieve_block 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 retrieve_block 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 retrieve_block. 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.
retrieve_block is provided by the Notion MCP Server MCP server (lrgex/notion-mcp). 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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