MCP Tool Reference Medium Risk

move_file

Move or rename files and directories

Part of the Filesystem MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem Write

WHEN AI AGENTS USE THIS TOOL

AI agents use move_file to create or modify resources in Filesystem. Write operations carry medium risk because an autonomous agent could trigger bulk unintended modifications. Rate limits prevent a single agent session from making hundreds of changes in rapid succession. Argument validation ensures the agent passes expected values.

WHY ENFORCE A POLICY ON MOVE_FILE

Without a policy, an AI agent could call move_file repeatedly, creating or modifying resources faster than any human could review. Intercept's rate limiting ensures write operations happen at a controlled pace, and argument validation catches malformed or unexpected inputs before they reach Filesystem.

RECOMMENDED POLICY

Write tools can modify data. A rate limit prevents runaway bulk operations from AI agents.

filesystem.yaml 
tools:
  move_file:
    rules:
      - action: allow
        rate_limit:
          max: 30
          window: 60

See the full Filesystem policy for all 12 tools.

DETAILS

Tool Name

move_file

Category

Write

MCP Server

Filesystem MCP Server

Risk Level

Medium

MORE FILESYSTEM TOOLS

create_directory Write
Create a new directory or ensure it exists
edit_file Write
Make selective edits using advanced pattern matching
write_file Write
Create a new file or overwrite an existing file
get_file_info Read
Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory
list_allowed_directories Read
Returns the list of directories the server can access
list_directory Read
Get a detailed listing of files and directories
read_media_file Read
Read an image or audio file
read_multiple_files Read
Read the contents of multiple files simultaneously

View all 12 tools →

SIMILAR WRITE TOOLS ON OTHER SERVERS

create_table Airtable
Create a new table with fields
update_table Airtable
Update a table's name or description
create_field Airtable
Add a new field to a table
update_field Airtable
Modify an existing field
create_record Airtable
Add a new record
update_record Airtable
Modify an existing record

RELATED READING

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does the move_file tool do?

Move or rename files and directories. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Filesystem MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on move_file?

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for move_file. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the Filesystem MCP server.

What risk level is move_file?

move_file is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit move_file?

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the move_file 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.

How do I block move_file completely?

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for move_file. 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 move_file?

move_file is provided by the Filesystem MCP server (modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

ENFORCE POLICIES ON FILESYSTEM

Open source. One binary. Zero dependencies.

VIEW ON GITHUB Full Filesystem policy →