create_category · Mcp Mealie MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What create_category does on Mcp Mealie

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why create_category needs a policy

The tool creates a new category entity in the Mealie system, which is a reversible write operation. It does not execute code, delete data, or move money. The blast radius is low—creating an unwanted category can easily be undone through deletion.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'create_category' indicates creation of data. Description states 'Create a category,' which is a reversible operation that adds new data to the Mealie system. This aligns with the Write category pattern (create, update, post, upload).

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

create_category Rate-limited

create_category 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "create_category": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "create_category_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

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 Mealie, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about create_category

What does the create_category tool do? +

Create a category. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Mcp Mealie 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_category? +

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

What risk level is create_category? +

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

Can I rate-limit create_category? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the create_category 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_category completely? +

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

create_category is provided by the Mcp Mealie MCP server (obrien-matthew/mcp-mealie). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.