# create_or_update_file

Create or update a single file in a GitHub repository. If updating, you should provide the SHA of the file you want to update. Use this tool to create or update a file in a GitHub repository remotely; do not use it for local file operations. In order to obtain the SHA of original file version before updating, use the following git command: git rev-parse <branch>:<path to file> SHA MUST be provided for existing file updates.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `create_or_update_file`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/github/create-or-update-file

## Facts

- Tool: `create_or_update_file`
- Server: GitHub (`oci:ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:1.3.0`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/github.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade D, identity verified
- Server auth posture: gated
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 7
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `sha` | string | no | The blob SHA of the file being replaced. Required if the file already exists. |
| `path` | string | no | Path where to create/update the file |
| `repo` | string | no | Repository name |
| `owner` | string | no | Repository owner (username or organization) |
| `branch` | string | no | Branch to create/update the file in |
| `content` | string | no | Content of the file |
| `message` | string | no | Commit message |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

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

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

## Why create_or_update_file is rated Medium

This tool modifies repository state by creating new files or updating existing ones. While reversible (changes can be undone via version control), the ability to modify code in a live repository poses significant risk if misused by an AI agent, such as injecting malicious code, breaking builds, or corrupting important files.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name explicitly states 'create_or_update_file' and description confirms it 'Create or update a single file in a GitHub repository.' These are reversible write operations."

Risk signals: Accepts file system path (path) · Accepts raw HTML/template content (content)

## Use case

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

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

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

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

## Other tools on GitHub (85)

- `delete_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/delete-file.md
- `projects_write` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/projects-write.md
- `actions_run_trigger` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/actions-run-trigger.md
- `assign_copilot_to_issue` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/assign-copilot-to-issue.md
- `actions_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/actions-get.md
- `actions_list` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/actions-list.md
- `get_code_scanning_alert` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-code-scanning-alert.md
- `get_commit` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-commit.md
- `get_copilot_job_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-copilot-job-status.md
- `get_copilot_space` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-copilot-space.md
- `get_dependabot_alert` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-dependabot-alert.md
- `get_discussion` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-discussion.md
- `get_discussion_comments` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-discussion-comments.md
- `get_file_contents` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-file-contents.md
- `get_gist` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-gist.md
- `get_global_security_advisory` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-global-security-advisory.md
- `get_job_logs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-job-logs.md
- `get_label` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-label.md
- `get_latest_release` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-latest-release.md
- `get_me` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-me.md
- `get_notification_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-notification-details.md
- `get_release_by_tag` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-release-by-tag.md
- `get_repository_tree` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-repository-tree.md
- `get_secret_scanning_alert` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-secret-scanning-alert.md
- `get_tag` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-tag.md
- `get_team_members` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-team-members.md
- `get_teams` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/get-teams.md
- `github_support_docs_search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/github-support-docs-search.md
- `issue_read` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/issue-read.md
- `list_branches` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/github/list-branches.md
- …and 55 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/github.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`

---

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