AI agents call show_item to retrieve information from Things 3 MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
show_item retrieves or displays an item from the Things 3 task management system without modifying data. Given the empty description and the presence of write tools (add_project, add_todo) as distinct operations, this tool is classified as Read. Confidence is moderate (0.75) because the description is missing, but the naming convention and context strongly suggest a retrieval operation with low security risk.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'show_item' is a getter/retriever pattern; sibling tools include get_* operations (get_anytime, get_areas, get_inbox, get_logbook, get_projects, get_random_anytime, get_random_inbox, get_random_todos), suggesting this server primarily provides read…
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access show_item gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Things 3 MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for show_item:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"show_item": {}
}
}show_item is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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show_item. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Things 3 MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Things 3 MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for show_item: 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 Things 3 MCP Server. Nothing to install.
show_item is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the show_item 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 show_item. 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.
show_item is provided by the Things 3 MCP Server MCP server (rossshannon/things3-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 24 Things 3 MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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24 Things 3 MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.