delete_item

THE RISK

Critical Risk

Why delete_item needs a policy

The tool explicitly states it 'permanently deletes' items, making this an irreversible destructive action. Misuse by an AI agent could result in permanent loss of project memory including decisions, patterns, and progress entries that the system is specifically designed to persist.

From the tool's definition 'Permanently deletes an Engrams item'

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access delete_item gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control delete_item

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Engrams, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for delete_item:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "delete_item"
  ]
}

delete_item disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.

Create a free account and register Engrams — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

RESTRICT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Engrams tools

Destructive unbind_code_from_item Permanently removes a code binding by its numeric binding_id. Destructive and irreversible Write batch_log_items Logs multiple items of the SAME type in a single call, reducing round-trips. Supported ite Write bind_code_to_item Creates a code binding linking an Engrams entity to file paths via glob patterns. Valid it Write link_engrams_items Creates a directional relationship link between two Engrams items (e.g., a decision Write log_custom_data Stores or updates a custom key-value entry organized by category. Use for any structured d Write log_governance_rule Creates an enforcement rule within a governance scope. Rules define what is blocked or war Write log_system_pattern Creates or updates a named system/coding pattern (e.g., Write review_amendment Accepts or rejects a proposed governance scope amendment. Precondition: the amendment must

All 42 Engrams tools →

Destructive tools on other servers

Android Forensics ADB MCP Server create_full_backup 0xarchive web3_revoke_key Frida Game Hacking MCP clear_scan cPanel MCP Server clear_spam_box

Go deeper

Critical-risk tools in Engrams → Every critical-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All critical-risk MCP tools → Every critical-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Blast radius → How much damage one compromised or confused agent can do — and how to bound it.
Tool call approval → Approval gates on individual tool calls: auto-allow, prompt, or deny.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about delete_item

What does the delete_item tool do? +

Permanently deletes an Engrams item. For decisions, patterns, and progress entries: provide item_type and item_id (numeric). For custom data: provide item_type=. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Engrams MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.

How do I enforce a policy on delete_item? +

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

What risk level is delete_item? +

delete_item is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.

Can I rate-limit delete_item? +

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

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

delete_item is provided by the Engrams MCP server (stevebrownlee/engrams). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Engrams tool call.

Start from Engrams, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →