place_xml_on_spread

THE RISK

Medium Risk

Why place_xml_on_spread needs a policy

This tool creates or modifies document content by inserting XML data onto a page spread. It is reversible (content can be edited or deleted), making it Write rather than Destructive. The severity is medium because misuse could corrupt document layouts or introduce malformed XML that requires manual cleanup, but the effect is confined to the current design document with no external system impact.

From the tool's definition Tool name contains 'place' and description states 'Place XML content on a spread', indicating creation or insertion of content into an InDesign document.

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

POLICY

How to control place_xml_on_spread

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

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "place_xml_on_spread": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "place_xml_on_spread_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

place_xml_on_spread 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.

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

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More InDesign MCP Server tools

Destructive cleanup_document Clean up document (remove unused elements) Destructive clear_session Clear all session data including page dimensions and document information Destructive delete_all_page_layout_snapshots Delete all layout snapshots for a page Destructive delete_master_spread Delete a master spread Destructive delete_page Delete a page from the document Destructive delete_page_item Delete a page item Destructive delete_page_layout_snapshot Delete the layout snapshot for a page Destructive delete_spread Delete a spread

All 135 InDesign MCP Server tools →

Write tools on other servers

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Argument validation → Checking tool call arguments against schema and policy before they run.
Scoped token → Per-person credentials that grant a defined subset of servers and tools.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about place_xml_on_spread

What does the place_xml_on_spread tool do? +

Place XML content on a spread. It is categorised as a Write tool in the InDesign MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on place_xml_on_spread? +

Register the InDesign MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for place_xml_on_spread: 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 InDesign MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is place_xml_on_spread? +

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

Can I rate-limit place_xml_on_spread? +

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

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

place_xml_on_spread is provided by the InDesign MCP Server MCP server (zachshallbetter/indesign-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every InDesign MCP Server tool call.

Start from InDesign MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →