insert · Pg MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What insert does on Pgmcp

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why insert needs a policy

INSERT is a reversible write operation that creates new data rows. While not destructive (data can be updated or deleted), it modifies the database state. Medium severity reflects that misuse could corrupt data or insert malicious records, but the operation is not irreversible.

From the tool's definition Tool named 'insert' on a PostgreSQL administration server. The name strongly indicates INSERT operations that create or modify data in a database.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

insert Rate-limited

insert 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": {
    "insert": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "insert_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 Pgmcp, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about insert

What does the insert tool do? +

insert. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Pgmcp MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on insert? +

Register the Pg MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for insert: 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 Pgmcp. Nothing to install.

What risk level is insert? +

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

Can I rate-limit insert? +

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

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

insert is provided by the Pg MCP server (veloper/pgmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.