AI agents call search_by_tag to retrieve information from Project Tessera without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves stored memories filtered by tag, analogous to searching or listing. It has no capability to create, modify, delete, or execute operations. The blast radius if misused by an agent is minimal—an agent could retrieve unwanted memories but cannot harm system state or data integrity. Classified as Read with low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Find all memories with a specific tag' — this is a query/search operation that retrieves data without modification. The verb 'Find' and the read-only nature of tag-based search confirm no side effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_by_tag gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Project Tessera, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for search_by_tag:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"search_by_tag": {}
}
}search_by_tag is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Find all memories with a specific tag. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Project Tessera MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Project Tessera MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_by_tag: 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 Project Tessera. Nothing to install.
search_by_tag 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 search_by_tag 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 search_by_tag. 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.
search_by_tag is provided by the Project Tessera MCP server (besslframework-stack/project-tessera). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Project Tessera, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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43 Project Tessera tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.