Set formatting on a paragraph: font (PostScript name), size, color. For bold use a bold font name like
AI agents use pages_format_text to create or update resources in Iwork — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Iwork environment.
This tool creates or modifies document formatting reversibly. It changes text properties (font, size, color) in Pages documents without deleting or executing arbitrary code. While it affects document state, the changes can be undone and are typical document editing operations. Severity is medium because misuse could corrupt formatting of important documents, but the changes are reversible.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'pages_format_text' and description indicates it 'Set formatting on a paragraph: font (PostScript name), size, color' — this modifies document content in Pages.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access pages_format_text gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Iwork, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for pages_format_text:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"pages_format_text": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "pages_format_text_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}pages_format_text 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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Set formatting on a paragraph: font (PostScript name), size, color. For bold use a bold font name like. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Iwork MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Iwork MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for pages_format_text: 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 Iwork. Nothing to install.
pages_format_text 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 pages_format_text 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 pages_format_text. 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.
pages_format_text is provided by the Iwork MCP server (reichenbach/iwork_mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Iwork, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
114 Iwork tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.