Low Risk

describe_uc_schema

describe_uc_schema

How to control describe_uc_schema ↓

AI agents call describe_uc_schema to retrieve information from MCP Databricks Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

Describing a Unity Catalog schema retrieves structural metadata about the schema (tables, columns, properties) with no side effects. Despite the empty description reducing confidence slightly, the tool name convention and server context clearly indicate a non-destructive metadata query operation.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'describe_uc_schema', a read-only operation aligned with sibling tools 'describe_uc_catalog' and 'describe_uc_table' which retrieve metadata. The server context indicates schema inspection capability without modification.

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

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

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "describe_uc_schema": {}
  }
}

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

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

What does the describe_uc_schema tool do? +

describe_uc_schema. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Databricks Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on describe_uc_schema? +

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

What risk level is describe_uc_schema? +

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

Can I rate-limit describe_uc_schema? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the describe_uc_schema 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_uc_schema completely? +

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

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

Enforce policy on every MCP Databricks Server tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 5 MCP Databricks Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

Free to start. No card required.

5 MCP Databricks Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

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