# read_file

Read the complete contents of a file from the file system.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `read_file`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/read-file

## Facts

- Tool: `read_file`
- Server: MCP Filesystem Server (`a-niranjan/mcp-filesystem`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/A-Niranjan/mcp-filesystem
- 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 tool retrieves file contents without side effects. No creation, modification, deletion, or execution occurs. The strict path validation mentioned in the server description further constrains its scope to safe read-only operations. The low severity reflects minimal blast radius if an AI agent misuses it—at worst, it accesses unintended files that it has permission to read.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name is 'read_file' and description states 'Read the complete contents of a file from the file system.' The verb 'read' and absence of any modification language clearly indicate data retrieval only."

## Use case

AI agents call read_file to retrieve information from MCP Filesystem 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 MCP Filesystem Server:

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

## Other tools on MCP Filesystem Server (16)

- `bash_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/bash-command.md
- `bash_execute` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/bash-execute.md
- `bash_pipe` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/bash-pipe.md
- `curl_request` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/curl-request.md
- `execute_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/execute-command.md
- `directory_tree` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/directory-tree.md
- `get_file_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/get-file-info.md
- `get_metrics` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/get-metrics.md
- `list_allowed_directories` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/list-allowed-directories.md
- `list_directory` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/list-directory.md
- `read_multiple_files` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/read-multiple-files.md
- `search_files` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/search-files.md
- `create_directory` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/create-directory.md
- `edit_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/edit-file.md
- `move_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/move-file.md
- `write_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem/write-file.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=a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/a-niranjan-mcp-filesystem