snow_create_workflow_activity · Serac MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What snow_create_workflow_activity does on Serac

AI agents use snow_create_workflow_activity to create or update resources in Serac — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Serac environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why snow_create_workflow_activity needs a policy

This tool creates and configures workflow activities in ServiceNow, which are reversible modifications to system configuration. While marked as LEGACY, it still modifies workflow state and execution logic. The 'high' severity reflects the blast radius: misconfigured workflows could disrupt business processes, though the changes are typically reversible through ServiceNow's admin interface.

From the tool's definition Tool name contains 'create' and description states 'Create workflow activity' and 'Configures activity types, conditions, and execution order.' These are write operations that modify ServiceNow workflow configuration.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

snow_create_workflow_activity Rate-limited

snow_create_workflow_activity 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "snow_create_workflow_activity": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "snow_create_workflow_activity_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Serac, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about snow_create_workflow_activity

What does the snow_create_workflow_activity tool do? +

⚠️ LEGACY: Create workflow activity (deprecated - ServiceNow recommends Flow Designer). Configures activity types, conditions, and execution order. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Serac MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on snow_create_workflow_activity? +

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

What risk level is snow_create_workflow_activity? +

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

Can I rate-limit snow_create_workflow_activity? +

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

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

snow_create_workflow_activity is provided by the Serac MCP server (serac-labs/serac). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.