# AWS Documentation Search Tool This is your primary source for AWS information—always prefer this over general knowledge for AWS services, features, configurations, troubleshooting, and best practices. ## When to Use This Tool **Always search when the query involves:** - Any AW...
Part of the AWS Docs and Regions MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.
AI agents call aws___search_documentation to retrieve information from AWS Docs and Regions without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.
Even though aws___search_documentation only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.
Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.
tools:
aws___search_documentation:
rules:
- action: allowSee the full AWS Docs and Regions policy for all 5 tools.
Agents calling read-class tools like aws___search_documentation have been implicated in these attack patterns. Read the full case and prevention policy for each:
Other tools in the Read risk category across the catalogue. The same policy patterns (rate-limit, allow) apply to each.
# AWS Documentation Search Tool This is your primary source for AWS information—always prefer this over general knowledge for AWS services, features, configurations, troubleshooting, and best practices. ## When to Use This Tool **Always search when the query involves:** - Any AWS service or feature (Lambda, S3, EC2, RDS, etc.) - AWS architecture, patterns, or best practices - AWS CLI, SDK, or API usage - AWS CDK or CloudFormation - AWS Amplify development - AWS errors or troubleshooting - AWS pricing, limits, or quotas - "How do I..." questions about AWS - Recent AWS updates or announcements **Only skip this tool when:** - Query is about non-AWS technologies - Question is purely conceptual (e.g., "What is a database?") - General programming questions unrelated to AWS ## Quick Topic Selection | Query Type | Use Topic | Example | |------------|-----------|---------| | API/SDK/CLI code | `reference_documentation` | "S3 PutObject boto3", "Lambda invoke API" | | New features, releases | `current_awareness` | "Lambda new features 2024", "what\'s new in ECS" | | Errors, debugging | `troubleshooting` | "AccessDenied S3", "Lambda timeout error" | | Amplify apps | `amplify_docs` | "Amplify Auth React", "Amplify Storage Flutter" | | CDK concepts, APIs, CLI | `cdk_docs` | "CDK stack props Python", "cdk deploy command" | | CDK code samples, patterns | `cdk_constructs` | "serverless API CDK", "Lambda function example TypeScript" | | CloudFormation templates | `cloudformation` | "DynamoDB CloudFormation", "StackSets template" | | Architecture, blogs, guides | `general` | "Lambda best practices", "S3 architecture patterns" | ## Documentation Topics ### reference_documentation **For: API methods, SDK code, CLI commands, technical specifications** Use for: - SDK method signatures: "boto3 S3 upload_file parameters" - CLI commands: "aws ec2 describe-instances syntax" - API references: "Lambda InvokeFunction API" - Service configuration: "RDS parameter groups" Don\'t confuse with general—use this for specific technical implementation. ### current_awareness **For: New features, announcements, "what\'s new", release dates** Use for: - "New Lambda features" - "When was EventBridge Scheduler released" - "Latest S3 updates" - "Is feature X available yet" Keywords: new, recent, latest, announced, released, launch, available ### troubleshooting **For: Error messages, debugging, problems, "not working"** Use for: - Error codes: "InvalidParameterValue", "AccessDenied" - Problems: "Lambda function timing out" - Debug scenarios: "S3 bucket policy not working" - "How to fix..." queries Keywords: error, failed, issue, problem, not working, how to fix, how to resolve ### amplify_docs **For: Frontend/mobile apps with Amplify framework** Always include framework: React, Next.js, Angular, Vue, JavaScript, React Native, Flutter, Android, Swift Examples: - "Amplify authentication React" - "Amplify GraphQL API Next.js" - "Amplify Storage Flutter setup" ### cdk_docs **For: CDK concepts, API references, CLI commands, getting started** Use for CDK questions like: - "How to get started with CDK" - "CDK stack construct TypeScript" - "cdk deploy command options" - "CDK best practices Python" - "What are CDK constructs" Include language: Python, TypeScript, Java, C#, Go **Common mistake**: Using general knowledge instead of searching for CDK concepts and guides. Always search for CDK questions! ### cdk_constructs **For: CDK code examples, patterns, L3 constructs, sample implementations** Use for: - Working code: "Lambda function CDK Python example" - Patterns: "API Gateway Lambda CDK pattern" - Sample apps: "Serverless application CDK TypeScript" - L3 constructs: "ECS service construct" Include language: Python, TypeScript, Java, C#, Go ### cloudformation **For: CloudFormation templates, concepts, SAM patterns** Use for: - "CloudFormation StackSets" - "DynamoDB table template" - "SAM API Gateway Lambda" - CloudFormation template examples ### general **For: Architecture, best practices, tutorials, blog posts, design patterns** Use for: - Architecture patterns: "Serverless architecture AWS" - Best practices: "S3 security best practices" - Design guidance: "Multi-region architecture" - Getting started: "Building data lakes on AWS" - Tutorials and blog posts **Common mistake**: Not using this for AWS conceptual and architectural questions. Always search for AWS best practices and patterns! **Don\'t use general knowledge for AWS topics—search instead!** ## Search Best Practices **Be specific with service names:** Good examples: ``` "S3 bucket versioning configuration" "Lambda environment variables Python SDK" "DynamoDB GSI query patterns" ``` Bad examples: ``` "versioning" (too vague) "environment variables" (missing context) ``` **Include framework/language:** ``` "Amplify authentication React" "CDK Lambda function TypeScript" "boto3 S3 client Python" ``` **Use exact error messages:** ``` "AccessDenied error S3 GetObject" "InvalidParameterValue Lambda environment" ``` **Add temporal context for new features:** ``` "Lambda new features 2024" "recent S3 announcements" ``` ## Multiple Topic Selection You can search multiple topics simultaneously for comprehensive results: ``` # For a query about Lambda errors and new features: topics=["troubleshooting", "current_awareness"] # For CDK examples and API reference: topics=["cdk_constructs", "cdk_docs"] # For Amplify and general AWS architecture: topics=["amplify_docs", "general"] ``` ## Response Format Results include: - `rank_order`: Relevance score (lower = more relevant) - `url`: Direct documentation link - `title`: Page title - `context`: Excerpt or summary ## Parameters ``` search_phrase: str # Required - your search query topics: List[str] # Optional - up to 3 topics. Defaults to ["general"] limit: int = 10 # Optional - max results per topic ``` --- **Remember: When in doubt about AWS, always search. This tool provides the most current, accurate AWS information.**. It is categorised as a Read tool in the AWS Docs and Regions MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for aws___search_documentation. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the AWS Docs and Regions MCP server.
aws___search_documentation 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 aws___search_documentation rule in your Intercept 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 Intercept policy for aws___search_documentation. 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.
aws___search_documentation is provided by the AWS Docs and Regions MCP server (FaresYoussef94/aws-knowledge-mcp). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Open source. One binary. Zero dependencies.
npx -y @policylayer/intercept