publish_spec · Interagent MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What publish_spec does on Interagent

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why publish_spec needs a policy

This tool creates or modifies shared specifications that other agents depend on. While reversible (specs can typically be updated or deprecated), publishing a spec can affect downstream agents' behavior and coordination. It does not retrieve data (Read), execute arbitrary code (Execute), delete irreversibly (Destructive), or move money (Financial).

From the tool's definition The tool description states it will 'Publish an API contract, interface definition, or schema' — publishing is a create/modify operation that adds or updates shared reference data for other agents.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

publish_spec Rate-limited

publish_spec 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": {
    "publish_spec": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "publish_spec_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 Interagent, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about publish_spec

What does the publish_spec tool do? +

Publish an API contract, interface definition, or schema that other agents can reference. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Interagent MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on publish_spec? +

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

What risk level is publish_spec? +

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

Can I rate-limit publish_spec? +

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

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

publish_spec is provided by the Interagent MCP server (signalclaude/interagent). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.