# update_problem

Update fields on an existing problem (requires WRITE_ENABLED=true)

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `update_problem`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/update-problem

## Facts

- Tool: `update_problem`
- Server: ServiceNow-MCP (`tedorigawa001/servicenow-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/tedorigawa001/ServiceNow-MCP
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "update_problem",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why update_problem is rated Medium

This tool creates or modifies data reversibly by updating fields on existing problem records in ServiceNow. It does not delete data (would be Destructive), execute arbitrary code (would be Execute), or move money (would be Financial).

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'update_problem' and description 'Update fields on an existing problem' indicate modification of existing data. The requirement note '(requires WRITE_ENABLED=true)' confirms write capability."

## Use case

AI agents use update_problem to create or update resources in ServiceNow-MCP, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your ServiceNow-MCP environment.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches ServiceNow-MCP:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "update_problem": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "update_problem_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on ServiceNow-MCP (494)

- `cancel_request` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/cancel-request.md
- `delete_attachment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/delete-attachment.md
- `delete_system_property` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/delete-system-property.md
- `delete_uib_page` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/delete-uib-page.md
- `remove_user_from_group` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/remove-user-from-group.md
- `restore_archived_record` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/restore-archived-record.md
- `rollback_deployment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/rollback-deployment.md
- `set_cleanup_rule_active` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/set-cleanup-rule-active.md
- `set_destroy_rule_active` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/set-destroy-rule-active.md
- `commit_changeset` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/commit-changeset.md
- `create_business_rule` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-business-rule.md
- `create_client_script` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-client-script.md
- `create_flow_action` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-flow-action.md
- `create_scheduled_job` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-scheduled-job.md
- `create_script_include` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/create-script-include.md
- `execute_background_script` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/execute-background-script.md
- `fire_event` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/fire-event.md
- `ml_detect_anomalies` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/ml-detect-anomalies.md
- `ml_train_anomaly_detector` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/ml-train-anomaly-detector.md
- `ml_train_change_risk` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/ml-train-change-risk.md
- `ml_train_incident_classifier` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/ml-train-incident-classifier.md
- `publish_changeset` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/publish-changeset.md
- `run_aggregate_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-aggregate-query.md
- `run_atf_suite` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-atf-suite.md
- `run_atf_test` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-atf-test.md
- `run_discovery_scan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-discovery-scan.md
- `run_security_playbook` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-security-playbook.md
- `run_transform_map` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/run-transform-map.md
- `scan_vulnerabilities` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/scan-vulnerabilities.md
- `smart_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp/smart-query.md
- …and 464 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/tedorigawa001-servicenow-mcp