handoff_merge · Conversation Handoff MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What handoff_merge does on Conversation Handoff MCP

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why handoff_merge needs a policy

An AI agent can call handoff_merge faster than any human can review — one bad instruction and it creates or modifies resources in Conversation Handoff MCP by the hundred, each call as confident as the last.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

handoff_merge Rate-limited

handoff_merge 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": {
    "handoff_merge": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "handoff_merge_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 Conversation Handoff MCP, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about handoff_merge

What does the handoff_merge tool do? +

Merge multiple handoffs into one. Combines conversations and metadata from related handoffs into a single unified handoff. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Conversation Handoff MCP MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on handoff_merge? +

Register the Conversation Handoff MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for handoff_merge: 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 Conversation Handoff MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is handoff_merge? +

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

Can I rate-limit handoff_merge? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the handoff_merge 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 handoff_merge completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for handoff_merge. 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 handoff_merge? +

handoff_merge is provided by the Conversation Handoff MCP server (trust-delta/conversation-handoff-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.