ui_traverse

Breadth-first traversal of the accessibility tree. Returns a flat list of all UI elements

SERVERAirMCP SOURCEairmcp

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/heznpc-airmcp/ui-traverse.md

WHAT IT DOES

What ui_traverse does on AirMCP

AI agents call ui_traverse 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.

RISK

Why ui_traverse is rated Low

This tool performs read-only inspection of the macOS accessibility tree to enumerate UI elements. It retrieves structural information about the screen state without modifying data, executing commands, or triggering actions. While it could inform subsequent agent decisions about what UI elements to interact with, the tool itself is purely informational.

From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Returns a flat list of all UI elements' via accessibility tree traversal — a retrieval operation with no modification or execution capabilities.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs ui_traverse 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 ui_traverse, this is the rule to start with:

ui_traverse Allowed

ui_traverse 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": {
    "ui_traverse": {}
  }
}

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

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

FAQ

Questions about ui_traverse

What does the ui_traverse tool do? +

Breadth-first traversal of the accessibility tree. Returns a flat list of all UI elements. It is categorised as a Read tool in the AirMCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on ui_traverse? +

Register the Air MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ui_traverse: 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.

What risk level is ui_traverse? +

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

Can I rate-limit ui_traverse? +

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

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

ui_traverse 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.

KEEP EXPLORING

More on Air, and thousands of servers like it.

This server

All 279 Air tools →

Across the catalogue

The MCP Attack Database →

Guides

Roll out MCP under one policy →Data exfiltration →MCP token cost →