swarm_execute_skill · Mcp Swarm MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What swarm_execute_skill does on Mcp Swarm

AI agents invoke swarm_execute_skill to trigger actions in Mcp Swarm. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why swarm_execute_skill needs a policy

This tool triggers external operations (code review, document generation, and other skills) whose side effects depend entirely on which skill is selected and its arguments. This fits the Execute category: it runs operations whose consequences are task-dependent. The 'high' severity reflects that an AI agent could select and execute harmful skills if prompt-injected or misaligned.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'swarm_execute_skill' combined with description stating it 'executes specified skills (such as code review, document generation, etc.)'.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

swarm_execute_skill Rate-limited

swarm_execute_skill stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "swarm_execute_skill": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "swarm_execute_skill_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Mcp Swarm, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about swarm_execute_skill

What does the swarm_execute_skill tool do? +

执行指定的技能（如代码审查、文档生成等）。. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Mcp Swarm MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on swarm_execute_skill? +

Register the Mcp Swarm MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for swarm_execute_skill: 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 Mcp Swarm. Nothing to install.

What risk level is swarm_execute_skill? +

swarm_execute_skill is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit swarm_execute_skill? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the swarm_execute_skill 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.

How do I block swarm_execute_skill completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for swarm_execute_skill. 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.

What MCP server provides swarm_execute_skill? +

swarm_execute_skill is provided by the Mcp Swarm MCP server (moselu/mcp-swarm). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.