nlq_query
Ask a natural language question and get structured ServiceNow data (ServiceNow NLQ API)
This record as markdown: /tools/nowaikit-servicenow-ai-toolkit/nlq-query.md
What nlq_query does on NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit
AI agents call nlq_query to retrieve information from NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why nlq_query is rated Low
nlq_query is a read operation that retrieves and queries ServiceNow data based on natural language input. While it does not modify or delete data, it receives 'high' severity due to the potential sensitive nature of ServiceNow data (typically containing business-critical information, user details, configurations) and the risk that an AI agent could query and exfiltrate confidential information through natural…
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Ask a natural language question and get structured ServiceNow data' which indicates data retrieval/querying without modification. Uses ServiceNow NLQ API for information retrieval.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs nlq_query safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For nlq_query, this is the rule to start with:
nlq_query is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit, apply this rule, and every nlq_query call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about nlq_query
Ask a natural language question and get structured ServiceNow data (ServiceNow NLQ API). It is categorised as a Read tool in the NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for nlq_query: 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 NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit. Nothing to install.
nlq_query 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 nlq_query 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 nlq_query. 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.
nlq_query is provided by the NowAIKit — ServiceNow AI Toolkit MCP server (nowaikit). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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