scratchpad_read

Read notes from your session scratchpad. Returns all notes if no key specified,

SERVERCoWork OS SOURCECoWork-OS/CoWork-OS

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/cowork-os/scratchpad-read.md

WHAT IT DOES

What scratchpad_read does on CoWork OS

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

RISK

Why scratchpad_read is rated Low

This tool retrieves or queries data (notes from a scratchpad) without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing operations. It is purely informational and fits the Read category definition: 'retrieves or queries data; no side effects.' The low severity reflects that reading session notes poses minimal risk even if misused by an agent.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'scratchpad_read' and description states it 'Read notes from your session scratchpad. Returns all notes if no key specified.' The verb 'read' and 'returns' indicate data retrieval with no modification or side effects.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs scratchpad_read safely

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

scratchpad_read Allowed

scratchpad_read 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": {
    "scratchpad_read": {}
  }
}

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

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

FAQ

Questions about scratchpad_read

What does the scratchpad_read tool do? +

Read notes from your session scratchpad. Returns all notes if no key specified,. It is categorised as a Read tool in the CoWork OS MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on scratchpad_read? +

Register the CoWork OS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for scratchpad_read: 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 CoWork OS. Nothing to install.

What risk level is scratchpad_read? +

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

Can I rate-limit scratchpad_read? +

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

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

scratchpad_read is provided by the CoWork OS MCP server (CoWork-OS/CoWork-OS). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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