Get information about an Excel workbook (sheets, size, etc.).
AI agents call get_workbook_info to retrieve information from Excel 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 a workbook without side effects. It performs a query operation (get) that returns information only. No data is created, modified, deleted, or executed. This is a straightforward Read operation with minimal risk.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_workbook_info' and description states it 'Get[s] information about an Excel workbook (sheets, size, etc.)' — purely informational retrieval with no modification or execution.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_workbook_info gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Excel MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_workbook_info:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_workbook_info": {}
}
}get_workbook_info is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get information about an Excel workbook (sheets, size, etc.). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Excel MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Excel MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_workbook_info: 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 Excel MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_workbook_info 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_workbook_info 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_workbook_info. 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_workbook_info is provided by the Excel MCP Server MCP server (mort-lab/excel-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Excel 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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17 Excel MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.