Given a list of files, returns all files transitively affected by changing them simultaneously, with hop distance. Powered by the bitmap engine — only feasible at this speed (sub-millisecond) with bitmap OR-aggregation. Use when planning a refactor that touches multiple files.
AI agents call simulate_change_impact to retrieve information from Carto MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Despite its name containing 'simulate_change', the tool performs static analysis on the codebase to retrieve impact information. It queries the dependency graph to show what would be affected, but does not create, modify, delete, or execute any code. This is a read-only retrieval operation analogous to 'get_blast_radius' (a sibling tool).
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'returns all files transitively affected' — a query operation that 'use when planning a refactor.' No modification, deletion, execution, or financial action occurs. The tool analyzes and reports impact, it does not execute changes.
Risk signalsBulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access simulate_change_impact gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Carto MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for simulate_change_impact:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"simulate_change_impact": {}
}
}simulate_change_impact is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Given a list of files, returns all files transitively affected by changing them simultaneously, with hop distance. Powered by the bitmap engine — only feasible at this speed (sub-millisecond) with bitmap OR-aggregation. Use when planning a refactor that touches multiple files. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Carto MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Carto MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for simulate_change_impact: 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 Carto MCP Server. Nothing to install.
simulate_change_impact 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 simulate_change_impact 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 simulate_change_impact. 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.
simulate_change_impact is provided by the Carto MCP Server MCP server (theanshsonkar/carto). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 22 Carto MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
22 Carto MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.