create_notes · Obsidian MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What create_notes does on Obsidian

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why create_notes needs a policy

This tool creates new notes (data) in the vault, which is a Write operation. Severity is medium because while note creation is reversible (notes can be deleted), creating many notes at once could disrupt a user's vault structure, fill it with unwanted content, or interfere with existing organization.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Create many notes in a single tool call' and explicitly mentions 'bootstrapping a knowledge graph'. The verb 'Create' and the batch operation confirm this creates new data reversibly within the Obsidian vault.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

create_notes Rate-limited

create_notes 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": {
    "create_notes": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "create_notes_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 Obsidian, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about create_notes

What does the create_notes tool do? +

Create many notes in a single tool call. Designed for bootstrapping a knowledge graph (MOC + topical notes) without paying N round-trips. Each entry follows the same schema as. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Obsidian MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on create_notes? +

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

What risk level is create_notes? +

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

Can I rate-limit create_notes? +

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

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

create_notes is provided by the Obsidian MCP server (yanxue06/obsidian-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.