Critical Risk →

delete_table

Delete a table by index (0-based). Raises IndexError if out of range.

How to control delete_table ↓

What delete_table does on Docx

AI agents call delete_table to permanently remove resources in Docx — typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.

Critical Risk

Why delete_table needs a policy

This tool permanently removes a table from a document, which cannot be undone programmatically through this MCP interface. While the document could theoretically be recovered via undo in Microsoft Word, the MCP tool itself performs an irreversible deletion of structured content. This is the most severe category applicable—more severe than Write (which is reversible) or Execute (which merely triggers operations).

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'delete_table' and description states 'Delete a table by index'. The verb 'delete' combined with the irreversible nature of removing a table from a Word document makes this a destructive operation.

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

How to control delete_table

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Docx, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for delete_table:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "delete_table"
  ]
}

delete_table disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.

  1. Create a free account and register Docx — 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.
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Related tools and policies

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Questions about delete_table

What does the delete_table tool do? +

Delete a table by index (0-based). Raises IndexError if out of range. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Docx MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.

How do I enforce a policy on delete_table? +

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

What risk level is delete_table? +

delete_table is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.

Can I rate-limit delete_table? +

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

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

delete_table is provided by the Docx MCP server (securityronin/docx-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Docx tool call.

Start from Docx, 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.

219 Docx tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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