steal_task_lease · Todos MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What steal_task_lease does on Todos

AI agents use steal_task_lease 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 IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why steal_task_lease needs a policy

This tool modifies the ownership/lease state of a task by transferring it from one holder to another. While 'steal' sounds aggressive, it operates on stale/expired leases and is described as 'safely' done — this is a reversible state change (a write/update operation), not a permanent deletion. Misuse could disrupt task coordination between agents.

From the tool's definition steal a stale or expired task lease

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

steal_task_lease Rate-limited

steal_task_lease 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "steal_task_lease": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "steal_task_lease_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Todos, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about steal_task_lease

What does the steal_task_lease tool do? +

Safely steal a stale or expired task lease. 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.

How do I enforce a policy on steal_task_lease? +

Register the Todos MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for steal_task_lease: 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.

What risk level is steal_task_lease? +

steal_task_lease is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit steal_task_lease? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the steal_task_lease 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.

How do I block steal_task_lease completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for steal_task_lease. 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.

What MCP server provides steal_task_lease? +

steal_task_lease 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.