restore_db · Metis Public Health MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What restore_db does on Metis Public Health

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why restore_db needs a policy

A database restore operation modifies the current state of data by replacing it with a prior version. While it does not permanently delete original data (the backup remains), it does irreversibly alter the current database state and could overwrite recent changes.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'restore_db' indicates restoration/recovery of a database, which involves modifying or overwriting the current database state with a previous snapshot or backup.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

restore_db Rate-limited

restore_db 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": {
    "restore_db": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "restore_db_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 Metis Public Health, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about restore_db

What does the restore_db tool do? +

restore_db. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Metis Public Health MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on restore_db? +

Register the Metis Public Health MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for restore_db: 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 Metis Public Health. Nothing to install.

What risk level is restore_db? +

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

Can I rate-limit restore_db? +

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

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

restore_db is provided by the Metis Public Health MCP server (sveritg/metis_ph). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.