This record as markdown: /tools/todos/export-todos-md.md
What export_todos_md does on Todos
AI agents use export_todos_md to create or update resources in Todos, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Todos environment.
Why export_todos_md is rated Medium
This tool writes data to a local file (todos.md), which is a reversible data modification operation. It falls under Write rather than Read (since it creates/modifies a file rather than just retrieving data) or Destructive (since it does not irreversibly delete data—a newly created or updated markdown file can be edited or deleted by other means).
From the tool's definition Tool name 'export_todos_md' and description 'Export tasks to a local todos.md markdown file' indicate file creation/modification on the local filesystem. The description explicitly states writing to a markdown file.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs export_todos_md safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Todos, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For export_todos_md, this is the rule to start with:
export_todos_md 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.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Todos, apply this rule, and every export_todos_md call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about export_todos_md
Export tasks to a local todos.md markdown file. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Todos MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Todos MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for export_todos_md: 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 Todos. Nothing to install.
export_todos_md is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the export_todos_md 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 export_todos_md. 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.
export_todos_md is provided by the Todos MCP server (@hasna/todos). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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