Get detailed information about a table's columns.
AI agents call PostgreSQL_describe_table to retrieve information from Postgres 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 table structure (column names, types, constraints, etc.) without modifying data, executing commands, or affecting system state. It is a standard introspection/diagnostic operation typical of database schema exploration, placing it firmly in the Read category with low severity since exposure poses minimal direct risk even if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition The tool 'PostgreSQL_describe_table' performs a 'Get detailed information' operation on table columns, which is a retrieval and querying action without data modification or execution of arbitrary code.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access PostgreSQL_describe_table gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Postgres, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for PostgreSQL_describe_table:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"PostgreSQL_describe_table": {}
}
}PostgreSQL_describe_table is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get detailed information about a table's columns. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Postgres MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Postgres MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for PostgreSQL_describe_table: 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 Postgres. Nothing to install.
PostgreSQL_describe_table 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 PostgreSQL_describe_table 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 PostgreSQL_describe_table. 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.
PostgreSQL_describe_table is provided by the Postgres MCP server (mukul975/postgres-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Postgres, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
239 Postgres tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.