This record as markdown: /tools/ashlesh-t-cognirepo/lookup-symbol.md
What lookup_symbol does on CogniRepo
AI agents call lookup_symbol to retrieve information from CogniRepo without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why lookup_symbol is rated Low
'lookup_symbol' appears to be a read-only query operation that retrieves symbol information from a knowledge graph or repository index. No description was provided, which slightly reduces confidence, but the name and server context (memory/context retrieval) indicate a retrieval operation rather than modification, execution, or destructive action.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'lookup_symbol' suggests symbol resolution or search functionality, consistent with sibling tools on this server (episodic_search, cross_repo_search) that retrieve data.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs lookup_symbol safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and CogniRepo, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For lookup_symbol, this is the rule to start with:
lookup_symbol is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect CogniRepo, apply this rule, and every lookup_symbol call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about lookup_symbol
lookup_symbol is a read tool on the CogniRepo MCP server. It is categorised as a Read tool in the CogniRepo MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the CogniRepo MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for lookup_symbol: 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 CogniRepo. Nothing to install.
lookup_symbol is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the lookup_symbol 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for lookup_symbol. 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.
lookup_symbol is provided by the CogniRepo MCP server (pypi:cognirepo). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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