Get the capability map for the current API key — shows which API endpoints/scopes are accessible. Useful for debugging permission issues.
AI agents call n8n_discover to retrieve information from n8n MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This is a read-only operation that queries and returns metadata about accessible API capabilities. It has no side effects, does not modify data, and does not execute workflows or operations. The information returned could inform security decisions but the tool itself performs no privileged actions. Severity is low because the blast radius of misuse is limited to information disclosure about API scope.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it "shows which API endpoints/scopes are accessible" and is "useful for debugging permission issues." The action is discovery/enumeration of available permissions, not modification or execution of operations.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get the capability map for the current API key — shows which API endpoints/scopes are accessible. Useful for debugging permission issues. It is categorised as a Read tool in the n8n MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the n8n MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for n8n_discover: 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 n8n MCP Server. Nothing to install.
n8n_discover 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 n8n_discover 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 n8n_discover. 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.
n8n_discover is provided by the n8n MCP Server MCP server (verzth/mcp-n8n). 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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