Medium Risk

create_group

Create a new GitLab group

How to control create_group ↓

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

Medium Risk

The tool creates a new GitLab group, which is a reversible write operation that modifies the GitLab instance by adding a new organizational structure. It does not delete data (not Destructive), execute arbitrary code (not Execute), move money (not Financial), or merely read data (not Read).

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'create_group' and description states 'Create a new GitLab group'. This creates a new organizational entity in GitLab.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access create_group gives an agent:

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Gitlab, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for create_group:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "create_group": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "create_group_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

create_group 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.

  1. Create a free account and register Gitlab — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Go deeper

What does the create_group tool do? +

Create a new GitLab group. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Gitlab 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_group? +

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

What risk level is create_group? +

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

Can I rate-limit create_group? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the create_group 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_group completely? +

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

create_group is provided by the Gitlab MCP server (yoda-digital/mcp-gitlab-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Gitlab tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 88 Gitlab tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

Free to start. No card required.

88 Gitlab tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

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