AI agents call get_table_lineage to retrieve information from Databricks MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves metadata about data lineage (upstream and downstream dependencies) for a table in Unity Catalog. It is a read-only query operation that has no side effects, creates no new data, executes no arbitrary code, and causes no destructive or financial operations.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_table_lineage' and description states 'Get Unity Catalog table lineage' — both indicate a retrieval operation with no modification or deletion of data.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_table_lineage gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Databricks MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_table_lineage:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_table_lineage": {}
}
}get_table_lineage is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get Unity Catalog table lineage. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Databricks MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Databricks MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_table_lineage: 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 Databricks MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_table_lineage 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_table_lineage 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_table_lineage. 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_table_lineage is provided by the Databricks MCP Server MCP server (markov-kernel/databricks-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Databricks MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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38 Databricks MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.