Fetches one Hacker News item by numeric itemId and expands its nested comment tree, unlike story-list tools or search_stories which return lists without discussion context. ${PUBLIC_HN_BEHAVIOR} Missing root items throw a 404-style error, deleted/dead descendants are skipped, and broad branches a...
AI agents call get_item_thread to retrieve information from Universal Mcp Toolkit without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a read-only operation that queries and retrieves structured data (a Hacker News item and its comments) from a public API. There are no side effects, data modifications, code execution, or destructive actions. The mention of error handling (404 for missing items, skipping deleted descendants) confirms this is a retrieval operation with defensive behavior.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states it 'Fetches' and 'expands' data. The function is to retrieve a single Hacker News item and its comment thread by ID.
Risk signalsAdmin/system-level operation
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Fetches one Hacker News item by numeric itemId and expands its nested comment tree, unlike story-list tools or search_stories which return lists without discussion context. ${PUBLIC_HN_BEHAVIOR} Missing root items throw a 404-style error, deleted/dead descendants are skipped, and broad branches are truncated by maxChildren; use only when you already have an item ID. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Universal Mcp Toolkit MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Universal Mcp Toolkit MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_item_thread: 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 Universal Mcp Toolkit. Nothing to install.
get_item_thread 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_item_thread 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_item_thread. 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_item_thread is provided by the Universal Mcp Toolkit MCP server (markgatcha/universal-mcp-toolkit). 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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