Create a new category in a knowledge base. Requires a label and the knowledge
AI agents use create_kb_category 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 creates new knowledge base categories, which is a reversible data modification operation. It does not execute arbitrary code, delete data, move money, or cause irreversible changes. The severity is medium because misconfigured or spam categories could clutter the knowledge base and require administrative cleanup, but the action itself is not destructive or high-impact to core business operations.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'create_kb_category' and description states 'Create a new category in a knowledge base.' The verb 'create' indicates data creation in ServiceNow knowledge management system.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access create_kb_category 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 create_kb_category:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"create_kb_category": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "create_kb_category_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}create_kb_category 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 a new category in a knowledge base. Requires a label and the knowledge. 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 create_kb_category: 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.
create_kb_category 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_kb_category 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_kb_category. 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_kb_category 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.
Free to start. No card required.
86 Now Sdk Ext tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.