# edit_file

Perform surgical text replacements in files.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `edit_file`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/edit-file

## Facts

- Tool: `edit_file`
- Server: CoWork OS (`CoWork-OS/CoWork-OS`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/CoWork-OS/CoWork-OS
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "edit_file",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why edit_file is rated Medium

This tool creates or modifies data reversibly by editing file contents. It does not delete files (Destructive) or execute code (Execute), but rather updates text within files. The severity is high because uncontrolled file edits by an AI agent could corrupt critical configuration files, source code, or data files, though the effects are theoretically reversible through version control or backups.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states it performs 'surgical text replacements in files.' The verb 'edit' and phrase 'text replacements' clearly indicate modification of existing file content."

## Use case

AI agents use edit_file to create or update resources in CoWork OS, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your CoWork OS environment.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches CoWork OS:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "edit_file": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "edit_file_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on CoWork OS (341)

- `cancel_agent` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/cancel-agent.md
- `cancel_video_generation_job` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/cancel-video-generation-job.md
- `cloud_sandbox_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/cloud-sandbox-delete.md
- `delete_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/delete-file.md
- `disable_macos_launch_agents` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/disable-macos-launch-agents.md
- `domain_dns_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/domain-dns-delete.md
- `google-workspace.calendar_event_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/google-workspace.calendar-event-delete.md
- `google-workspace.slides_delete_slide` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/google-workspace.slides-delete-slide.md
- `google-workspace.tasks_clear_completed` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/google-workspace.tasks-clear-completed.md
- `google-workspace.tasks_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/google-workspace.tasks-delete.md
- `google-workspace.tasks_lists_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/google-workspace.tasks-lists-delete.md
- `kg_delete_edge` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/kg-delete-edge.md
- `kg_delete_entity` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/kg-delete-entity.md
- `skill_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/skill-delete.md
- `supermemory_forget` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/supermemory-forget.md
- `blender.render_view` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/blender.render-view.md
- `browser_act_batch` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-act-batch.md
- `browser_attach` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-attach.md
- `browser_back` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-back.md
- `browser_click` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-click.md
- `browser_close` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-close.md
- `browser_close_tab` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-close-tab.md
- `browser_drag` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-drag.md
- `browser_emulate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-emulate.md
- `browser_evaluate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-evaluate.md
- `browser_fill` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-fill.md
- `browser_forward` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-forward.md
- `browser_handle_dialog` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-handle-dialog.md
- `browser_hover` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-hover.md
- `browser_navigate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os/browser-navigate.md
- …and 311 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/cowork-os.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`

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Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=cowork-os · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/cowork-os