Medium Risk

format_duration

Convert between duration formats: seconds (integer) ↔ human string ("2h 30m 15s") ↔ ISO 8601 duration ("PT2H30M15S"). Auto-detects input format.

Part of the Timestamp server.

format_duration can modify Timestamp data, with no limits today. PolicyLayer puts allow, deny, and rate-limit rules on every call. Live in minutes.

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AI agents use format_duration to create or modify resources in Timestamp. Write operations carry medium risk because an autonomous agent could trigger bulk unintended modifications. Rate limits prevent a single agent session from making hundreds of changes in rapid succession. Argument validation ensures the agent passes expected values.

Without a policy, an AI agent could call format_duration repeatedly, creating or modifying resources faster than any human could review. PolicyLayer's rate limiting ensures write operations happen at a controlled pace, and argument validation catches malformed or unexpected inputs before they reach Timestamp.

Write tools can modify data. A rate limit prevents runaway bulk operations from AI agents.

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

See the full Timestamp policy for all 5 tools.

Get this rule live on your own Timestamp server in minutes. PolicyLayer enforces it on every call, before it runs.

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These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access format_duration gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:

Browse the full MCP Attack Database →

Every attack above starts with a tool call. PolicyLayer checks each one against your policy first, so format_duration only ever does what you allow.

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Other write tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: rate-limit and validate the arguments.

What does the format_duration tool do? +

Convert between duration formats: seconds (integer) ↔ human string ("2h 30m 15s") ↔ ISO 8601 duration ("PT2H30M15S"). Auto-detects input format.. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Timestamp MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on format_duration? +

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

What risk level is format_duration? +

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

Can I rate-limit format_duration? +

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

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

format_duration is provided by the Timestamp MCP server (openclaw-ai/timestamp-converter). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Timestamp tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 5 Timestamp tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

Free to start. No card required.

4,600+ MCP servers and 31,000+ tools scanned and risk-classified.

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