Medium Risk

update_projects

update_projects

How to control update_projects ↓

What update_projects does on OmniFocus MCP Server

AI agents use update_projects 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.

Medium Risk

Why update_projects needs a policy

update_projects modifies project data in OmniFocus, which is a reversible write operation. It does not delete data (which would be Destructive), execute arbitrary code (Execute), or involve financial transactions (Financial). The blast radius is medium because incorrect project updates could affect task organization and workflow, but changes can be undone.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'update_projects' clearly indicates modification of existing projects. Server description states it enables 'create, update, and filter items', confirming write capabilities.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access update_projects gives an agent:

How to control update_projects

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_projects:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "update_projects": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "update_projects_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

update_projects 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.

  1. Create a free account and register OmniFocus MCP Server — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
LIMIT THIS TOOL →

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Related tools and policies

Go deeper

Questions about update_projects

What does the update_projects tool do? +

update_projects. 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.

How do I enforce a policy on update_projects? +

Register the OmniFocus MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for update_projects: 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.

What risk level is update_projects? +

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

Can I rate-limit update_projects? +

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

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

update_projects 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.

Enforce policy on every OmniFocus MCP Server tool call.

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.

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