send_portal_message · Smokeball MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What send_portal_message does on Smokeball

AI agents use send_portal_message 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 send_portal_message needs a policy

This tool creates new communication artifacts (messages) that are stored and delivered, representing a Write operation. Severity is high because misuse could send unintended messages to clients, potentially causing reputational damage, disclosing confidential information, or creating legal liability in a law firm context.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Send a message to a client via the Smokeball client portal' — this creates new message data in the system with side effects (communication to external parties), but is reversible (messages can typically be deleted or retracted).

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

send_portal_message Rate-limited

send_portal_message 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": {
    "send_portal_message": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "send_portal_message_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 send_portal_message

What does the send_portal_message tool do? +

Send a message to a client via the Smokeball client portal. 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 send_portal_message? +

Register the Smokeball MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for send_portal_message: 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 send_portal_message? +

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

Can I rate-limit send_portal_message? +

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

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

send_portal_message 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.