Assign a task record to a user and optionally an assignment group.
AI agents use assign_task to create or update resources in Now Sdk Ext — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Now Sdk Ext environment.
This tool modifies task records by updating assignment-related fields, making it a Write operation rather than Read (which would only query) or Destructive (which would irreversibly delete). The severity is medium because task reassignments in enterprise systems can disrupt workflows and redirect responsibility, but the action is reversible and has a bounded blast radius compared to critical infrastructure changes.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it will 'Assign a task record to a user and optionally an assignment group.' The verb 'assign' indicates modification of existing task records (specifically the assignment fields), which is reversible—the assignment can be changed or…
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access assign_task gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Now Sdk Ext, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for assign_task:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"assign_task": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "assign_task_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}assign_task 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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Assign a task record to a user and optionally an assignment group. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Now Sdk Ext MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Now Sdk Ext MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for assign_task: 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 Now Sdk Ext. Nothing to install.
assign_task 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 assign_task 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 assign_task. 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.
assign_task is provided by the Now Sdk Ext MCP server (sonisoft-cnanda/now-sdk-ext-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Now Sdk Ext, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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86 Now Sdk Ext tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.