create_submodel_ref
AI agents use create_submodel_ref to create or update resources in Aas — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Aas environment.
This tool creates a new submodel reference, which modifies the asset administration shell structure reversibly. It is a write operation that creates data relationships but does not delete or execute arbitrary code. The lack of a description lowers confidence slightly, but the naming convention and server context strongly suggest a Create operation in the CRUD paradigm.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'create_submodel_ref' indicates creation of a reference. Server description states 'full CRUD operations' with explicit mention of 'create' capability.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access create_submodel_ref gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Aas, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for create_submodel_ref:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"create_submodel_ref": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "create_submodel_ref_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}create_submodel_ref 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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create_submodel_ref. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Aas MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Aas MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for create_submodel_ref: 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 Aas. Nothing to install.
create_submodel_ref 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 create_submodel_ref 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 create_submodel_ref. 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.
create_submodel_ref is provided by the Aas MCP server (smartfactory-kl/aas-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Aas, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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25 Aas tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.