# read_file

Read the contents of a file

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `read_file`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/read-file

## Facts

- Tool: `read_file`
- Server: cPanel MCP Server (`0xhayd3n/cpanel-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/0xHayd3n/cPanel-MCP-Server
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "read_file",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why read_file is rated Low

This is fundamentally a Read operation (retrieves data, no side effects), but severity is High rather than Low due to the cPanel context where file contents often contain secrets and sensitive configuration data. An AI agent with unrestricted file_read access could exfiltrate credentials, private keys, and customer data. The confidence is high because the name and description are explicit and unambiguous.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'read_file' with description 'Read the contents of a file' indicates data retrieval without modification."

## Use case

AI agents call read_file to retrieve information from cPanel MCP Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches cPanel MCP Server:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "read_file": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on cPanel MCP Server (163)

- `clear_spam_box` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/clear-spam-box.md
- `deauthorize_ssh_key` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/deauthorize-ssh-key.md
- `delete_addon_domain` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-addon-domain.md
- `delete_autoresponder` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-autoresponder.md
- `delete_cron_job` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-cron-job.md
- `delete_dns_record` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-dns-record.md
- `delete_email_account` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-email-account.md
- `delete_email_filter` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-email-filter.md
- `delete_email_forwarder` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-email-forwarder.md
- `delete_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-file.md
- `delete_ftp_account` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-ftp-account.md
- `delete_git_repo` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-git-repo.md
- `delete_mysql_database` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-mysql-database.md
- `delete_mysql_user` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-mysql-user.md
- `delete_parked_domain` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-parked-domain.md
- `delete_postgresql_database` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-postgresql-database.md
- `delete_postgresql_user` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-postgresql-user.md
- `delete_redirect` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-redirect.md
- `delete_ssh_key` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-ssh-key.md
- `delete_ssl_certificate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-ssl-certificate.md
- `delete_subdomain` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/delete-subdomain.md
- `disinfect_files` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/disinfect-files.md
- `kill_ftp_session` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/kill-ftp-session.md
- `remove_2fa` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/remove-2fa.md
- `revoke_api_token` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/revoke-api-token.md
- `revoke_mysql_privileges` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/revoke-mysql-privileges.md
- `revoke_postgresql_privileges` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/revoke-postgresql-privileges.md
- `unregister_passenger_app` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/unregister-passenger-app.md
- `deploy_git_repo` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/deploy-git-repo.md
- `disable_modsecurity` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server/disable-modsecurity.md
- …and 133 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/0xhayd3n-cpanel-mcp-server