send_notification · Apple Notifier MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What send_notification does on Apple Notifier

AI agents invoke send_notification to trigger actions in Apple Notifier. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why send_notification needs a policy

This tool uses osascript, a system-level script execution engine, to send notifications. While the primary effect is displaying a notification, osascript is a general execution environment that could have broader system effects. Misuse could result in spam notifications or, depending on implementation, more significant actions via AppleScript.

From the tool's definition 'Send a notification on macOS using osascript' — osascript executes AppleScript/JXA code on the system

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

send_notification Rate-limited

send_notification stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "send_notification": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "send_notification_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Apple Notifier, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about send_notification

What does the send_notification tool do? +

Send a notification on macOS using osascript. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Apple Notifier MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on send_notification? +

Register the Apple Notifier MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for send_notification: 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 Apple Notifier. Nothing to install.

What risk level is send_notification? +

send_notification is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit send_notification? +

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

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

send_notification is provided by the Apple Notifier MCP server (piatra-automation/apple-notifier-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.