Retrieve and return a dictionary containing the definition of a table, including column names, data types, nullable, autoincrement, primary key, and foreign keys.
AI agents call describe_table to retrieve information from Mcp Odbc without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The describe_table tool performs a read-only operation to fetch table structure information from a database. It has no side effects, cannot modify data, and does not execute arbitrary queries. The metadata it returns is typically non-sensitive structural information that does not pose significant risk even if exposed to an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool retrieves table schema metadata (column names, data types, nullable, autoincrement, primary key, foreign keys) without modifying data or executing arbitrary operations.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access describe_table gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Mcp Odbc, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for describe_table:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"describe_table": {}
}
}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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Retrieve and return a dictionary containing the definition of a table, including column names, data types, nullable, autoincrement, primary key, and foreign keys. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mcp Odbc MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Mcp Odbc MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for 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 Mcp Odbc. Nothing to install.
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 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 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.
describe_table is provided by the Mcp Odbc MCP server (openlinksoftware/mcp-odbc-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Mcp Odbc, 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.
15 Mcp Odbc tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.