memory_promote · Exocortex MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What memory_promote does on Exocortex

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why memory_promote needs a policy

This tool creates new wiki articles or modifies existing wiki content by promoting synthesized information. This is a Write operation (creates/modifies data reversibly) rather than Read (no side effects) or Destructive (irreversible deletion). Medium severity is appropriate because misuse could pollute the wiki with incorrect syntheses, but the action is reversible by editing or deleting the article afterward.

From the tool's definition Tool description states it will 'Promote a synthesis, analysis, or set of memories into a persistent wiki article,' which creates or modifies persistent data (the wiki).

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

memory_promote Rate-limited

memory_promote 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": {
    "memory_promote": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "memory_promote_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 Exocortex, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about memory_promote

What does the memory_promote tool do? +

Promote a synthesis, analysis, or set of memories into a persistent wiki article. Use when a query result, comparison, or analysis is valuable enough to keep in the wiki rather than losing it to chat history. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Exocortex MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on memory_promote? +

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

What risk level is memory_promote? +

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

Can I rate-limit memory_promote? +

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

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

memory_promote is provided by the Exocortex MCP server (shawnhack/exocortex). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.