AI agents call get_help to retrieve information from Portals without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
topic | string | — | Help topic. Examples: overview, validate-room, build-flow, assets, recipes, python-helpers, context-selection |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
This tool retrieves and returns help documentation and setup guidance. It performs a read-only query operation with no impact on system state, user data, or external operations. The lowest severity applies because misuse would only return irrelevant documentation.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_help' and description 'Return focused setup/workflow guidance and matching docs:// resources' indicate retrieval of documentation and guidance without any side effects, creation, modification, or execution of code.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Return focused setup/workflow guidance and matching docs:// resources. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Portals MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
get_help accepts 1 parameter: topic. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Portals MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_help: 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 Portals. Nothing to install.
get_help 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 get_help 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 get_help. 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.
get_help is provided by the Portals MCP server (portals-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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