create_expense · Smokeball MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What create_expense does on Smokeball

AI agents use create_expense to create or update resources in Smokeball — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Smokeball environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why create_expense needs a policy

This tool creates new expense records in a practice management system, which is reversible data modification (expenses can typically be edited or deleted). While it involves financial data, it does not directly move money, process payments, or create irreversible obligations—it simply logs an expense entry for later billing/invoicing.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'create_expense' and description 'Create an expense entry' indicate data creation. Parameters 'date' and 'amount' show it records financial transactions in a law firm billing system.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

create_expense Rate-limited

create_expense 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "create_expense": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "create_expense_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Smokeball, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about create_expense

What does the create_expense tool do? +

Create an expense entry. date: YYYY-MM-DD. amount: dollar value. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Smokeball MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on create_expense? +

Register the Smokeball MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for create_expense: 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 Smokeball. Nothing to install.

What risk level is create_expense? +

create_expense is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit create_expense? +

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

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

create_expense is provided by the Smokeball MCP server (rosenadvertising/smokeball-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.