whatsapp_forward_message · Waha MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What whatsapp_forward_message does on Waha

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why whatsapp_forward_message needs a policy

This tool sends/forwards an existing message to another contact, which is a write operation (creating a new message in another chat). It does not delete or irreversibly destroy data, nor does it involve financial transactions or arbitrary code execution. Misuse could enable spam or privacy violations by forwarding private messages to unintended recipients, hence medium severity.

From the tool's definition Forward a message from one chat to another contact

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

whatsapp_forward_message Rate-limited

whatsapp_forward_message 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": {
    "whatsapp_forward_message": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "whatsapp_forward_message_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 Waha, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about whatsapp_forward_message

What does the whatsapp_forward_message tool do? +

Forward a message from one chat to another contact. The forwarded message shows a. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Waha MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on whatsapp_forward_message? +

Register the Waha MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for whatsapp_forward_message: 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 Waha. Nothing to install.

What risk level is whatsapp_forward_message? +

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

Can I rate-limit whatsapp_forward_message? +

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

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

whatsapp_forward_message is provided by the Waha MCP server (@marcos-heidemann/waha-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.