# read_file

Read an uploaded file's contents by name.

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

## Facts

- Tool: `read_file`
- Server: Agent Jail (`idiscoord13-sketch/agent-jail-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/idiscoord13-sketch/agent-jail-mcp
- 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 from an uploaded file without modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is a straightforward read operation with minimal risk. Severity is low because file access is constrained to already-uploaded files, limiting blast radius.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'read_file' and description 'Read an uploaded file's contents by name' both explicitly indicate retrieval of data with no modification or side effects."

## Use case

AI agents call read_file to retrieve information from Agent Jail 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 Agent Jail:

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

## Other tools on Agent Jail (34)

- `cleanup_expired_sandboxes` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/cleanup-expired-sandboxes.md
- `destroy_sandbox` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/destroy-sandbox.md
- `run_in_sandbox` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/run-in-sandbox.md
- `run_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/run-query.md
- `schedule_task` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/schedule-task.md
- `add` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/add.md
- `async_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/async-tool.md
- `custom_name` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/custom-name.md
- `greet` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/greet.md
- `log_progress` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/log-progress.md
- `multiply` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/multiply.md
- `my_task` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/my-task.md
- `my_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/my-tool.md
- `tool_with_context` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/tool-with-context.md
- `check_worker_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/check-worker-status.md
- `docker_health` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/docker-health.md
- `echo_tool` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/echo-tool.md
- `get_auth_type` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/get-auth-type.md
- `get_client_ip` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/get-client-ip.md
- `get_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/get-info.md
- `get_my_emails` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/get-my-emails.md
- `get_user_id` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/get-user-id.md
- `greeting` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/greeting.md
- `introspect` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/introspect.md
- `list_files` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/list-files.md
- `list_sandboxes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/list-sandboxes.md
- `long_running_task` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/long-running-task.md
- `add_expense` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/add-expense.md
- `create_sandbox` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/create-sandbox.md
- `save` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp/save.md
- …and 4 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/agent-jail-mcp.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=agent-jail-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/agent-jail-mcp