Get merged cells in a worksheet.
AI agents call get_merged_cells to retrieve information from Excel MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and returns information about merged cell ranges in a worksheet. It performs a read-only operation that retrieves existing data without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. The action is informational only, making it a Read category tool with low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_merged_cells' and description states 'Get merged cells in a worksheet' — both indicate a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get merged cells in a worksheet. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Excel MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Excel MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_merged_cells: 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 Excel MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_merged_cells 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 get_merged_cells 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 get_merged_cells. 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.
get_merged_cells is provided by the Excel MCP Server MCP server (thibaudvandendooren-acumen/excel-mcp-server-v2). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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