AI agents use switch_timeline to create or update resources in DaVinci MCP Professional — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your DaVinci MCP Professional environment.
This tool changes application state by switching the active timeline, which is a reversible modification rather than a destructive or read-only operation. While it doesn't create new data, it alters which timeline is currently active, making it a Write-category action.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'switch_timeline' combined with description 'Switch to a timeline by name' indicates a state-changing operation that modifies the current active timeline in DaVinci Resolve, affecting the editing context and potentially the UI state.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access switch_timeline gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and DaVinci MCP Professional, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for switch_timeline:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"switch_timeline": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "switch_timeline_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}switch_timeline 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.
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Switch to a timeline by name. It is categorised as a Write tool in the DaVinci MCP Professional MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the DaVinci MCP Professional MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for switch_timeline: 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 DaVinci MCP Professional. Nothing to install.
switch_timeline is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the switch_timeline 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 switch_timeline. 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.
switch_timeline is provided by the DaVinci MCP Professional MCP server (positronikal/davinci-mcp-professional). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from DaVinci MCP Professional, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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13 DaVinci MCP Professional tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.