AI agents call linear_getCycles to retrieve information from Linear without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves a list of cycles from Linear's project management system. It is a straightforward read operation with no side effects, no data modification, no code execution, and no destructive capabilities. The low severity reflects minimal blast radius if misused by an AI agent—it can only expose cycle data that may already be visible to the user.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'linear_getCycles' with description 'Get a list of all cycles' indicates a retrieval operation that queries existing data without modifying, deleting, or executing operations.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access linear_getCycles gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Linear, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for linear_getCycles:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"linear_getCycles": {}
}
}linear_getCycles is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get a list of all cycles. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Linear MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Linear MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for linear_getCycles: 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 Linear. Nothing to install.
linear_getCycles is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the linear_getCycles 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 linear_getCycles. 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.
linear_getCycles is provided by the Linear MCP server (tacticlaunch/mcp-linear). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 182 Linear tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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182 Linear tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.