AI agents use edit_header_footer to create or update resources in Docx — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Docx environment.
The tool edits document headers/footers, which are modifiable but reversible changes to a Word document. This is a Write operation—it alters document content but does not delete or destroy data irreversibly.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'edit_header_footer' and server description states the MCP server enables 'editing...Microsoft Word documents' with 'OOXML-level document manipulation.' Headers and footers are document structural elements that can be modified reversibly.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access edit_header_footer gives an agent:
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 edit_header_footer:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"edit_header_footer": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "edit_header_footer_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}edit_header_footer 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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edit_header_footer. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Docx MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Docx MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for edit_header_footer: 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.
edit_header_footer 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 edit_header_footer 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 edit_header_footer. 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.
edit_header_footer 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.
Start from Docx, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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219 Docx tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.