Return all the services that are used by the given service to complete its tasks. This shows the service dependency chain - which services the target service calls to fulfill requests.
AI agents call get_services_used_by to retrieve information from K8s Observability MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and displays the dependency chain of services in a Kubernetes cluster. It has no side effects—it only queries and returns existing observability metadata about service relationships. It cannot create, modify, delete, or execute operations.
From the tool's definition Tool returns/queries service dependency data with no modification capability. Description states 'Return all the services' indicating data retrieval only.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Return all the services that are used by the given service to complete its tasks. This shows the service dependency chain - which services the target service calls to fulfill requests. It is categorised as a Read tool in the K8s Observability MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the K8s Observability MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_services_used_by: 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 K8s Observability MCP. Nothing to install.
get_services_used_by 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_services_used_by 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_services_used_by. 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_services_used_by is provided by the K8s Observability MCP server (martinimarcello00/k8s-observability-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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