describe_external_location

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why describe_external_location needs a policy

The verb 'describe' combined with 'get...information' clearly indicates a read-only operation that retrieves metadata about external locations in Databricks. There are no side effects, no data modifications, no code execution, and no destructive operations.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'describe_external_location' and description 'Get detailed external location information' indicate a retrieval/query operation with no modifications to data or infrastructure.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access describe_external_location gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control describe_external_location

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Databricks MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for describe_external_location:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "describe_external_location": {}
  }
}

describe_external_location is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Databricks MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

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All 86 Databricks MCP Server tools →

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about describe_external_location

What does the describe_external_location tool do? +

Get detailed external location information. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Databricks MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on describe_external_location? +

Register the Databricks MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for describe_external_location: 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 Databricks MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is describe_external_location? +

describe_external_location is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit describe_external_location? +

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

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

describe_external_location is provided by the Databricks MCP Server MCP server (pulkitxchadha/awesome-databricks-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Databricks MCP Server tool call.

Start from Databricks MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →