Update one or more folders. Each item has id (required) plus fields to change.
AI agents use update_folders to create or update resources in OmniFocus MCP Server — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your OmniFocus MCP Server environment.
The tool creates or modifies data reversibly by updating folder properties. It does not delete data (which would be Destructive), execute arbitrary code (Execute), or move money (Financial). The medium severity reflects that folder updates in a task management system could affect organizational structure and task accessibility, but changes are reversible through subsequent updates.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'update_folders' and description 'Update one or more folders. Each item has id (required) plus fields to change' indicate modification of existing data structures.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access update_folders gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and OmniFocus MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for update_folders:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"update_folders": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "update_folders_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}update_folders 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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Update one or more folders. Each item has id (required) plus fields to change. It is categorised as a Write tool in the OmniFocus MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the OmniFocus MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for update_folders: 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 OmniFocus MCP Server. Nothing to install.
update_folders 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 update_folders 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 update_folders. 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.
update_folders is provided by the OmniFocus MCP Server MCP server (s-morgan-jeffries/omnifocus-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from OmniFocus MCP Server, 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.
21 OmniFocus MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.