Medium Risk

create_lights_definition

create_lights_definition

How to control create_lights_definition ↓

What create_lights_definition does on Openstudio

AI agents use create_lights_definition to create or update resources in Openstudio — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Openstudio environment.

Medium Risk

Why create_lights_definition needs a policy

The tool creates (rather than merely reads or executes) a new definition object within a building energy model. This is reversible (definitions can be deleted), so it falls under Write rather than Destructive. The blast radius is medium because an incorrectly created lights definition could affect simulation accuracy and downstream decisions, but effects are limited to model configuration and can be corrected.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'create_lights_definition' indicates creation of a new lights definition object in OpenStudio building energy simulation model. Server description confirms this enables 'creation...of models.' No description provided, lowering confidence slightly.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access create_lights_definition gives an agent:

How to control create_lights_definition

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Openstudio, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for create_lights_definition:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "create_lights_definition": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "create_lights_definition_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

create_lights_definition stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register Openstudio — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Related tools and policies

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Questions about create_lights_definition

What does the create_lights_definition tool do? +

create_lights_definition. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Openstudio MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on create_lights_definition? +

Register the Openstudio MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for create_lights_definition: 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 Openstudio. Nothing to install.

What risk level is create_lights_definition? +

create_lights_definition is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit create_lights_definition? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the create_lights_definition 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 create_lights_definition completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for create_lights_definition. 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 create_lights_definition? +

create_lights_definition is provided by the Openstudio MCP server (natlabrockies/openstudio-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Openstudio tool call.

Start from Openstudio, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

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146 Openstudio tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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