file_search

Search for files in a directory.

SERVERAapanel SOURCEnipunanirmal/aapanel-mcp

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/aapanel-mcp/file-search.md

WHAT IT DOES

What file_search does on Aapanel

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

RISK

Why file_search is rated Low

File search is a read-only operation that queries directory contents and returns matching file information. It has no side effects, does not execute code, and does not modify or delete data. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an attacker could enumerate files to inform further attacks, but the tool itself performs no destructive or privileged operations.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'file_search' and description 'Search for files in a directory' indicate a query operation that retrieves file system metadata without modifying data.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs file_search safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Aapanel, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For file_search, this is the rule to start with:

file_search Allowed

file_search is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "file_search": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Aapanel, apply this rule, and every file_search call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about file_search

What does the file_search tool do? +

Search for files in a directory. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Aapanel MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on file_search? +

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

What risk level is file_search? +

file_search is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit file_search? +

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

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

file_search is provided by the Aapanel MCP server (nipunanirmal/aapanel-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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