This record as markdown: /tools/heznpc-airmcp/recent-files.md
What recent_files does on AirMCP
AI agents call recent_files to retrieve information from AirMCP without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why recent_files is rated Low
This tool queries the file system to locate recently modified files—a read-only operation with no side effects. Spotlight is a macOS search utility that indexes and retrieves file metadata. No data is created, modified, deleted, or executed. The blast radius of misuse is limited to information disclosure about file system activity on the user's machine.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'recent_files' and description 'Find recently modified files in a folder using Spotlight' indicate a search/query operation that retrieves metadata about files without modifying, deleting, or executing anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs recent_files safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and AirMCP, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For recent_files, this is the rule to start with:
recent_files is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect AirMCP, apply this rule, and every recent_files call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about recent_files
Find recently modified files in a folder using Spotlight. It is categorised as a Read tool in the AirMCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Air MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for recent_files: 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 AirMCP. Nothing to install.
recent_files 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 recent_files 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for recent_files. 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.
recent_files is provided by the Air MCP server (airmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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