Download file from URL. Saves PDFs, images, documents directly.
AI agents use download_file to create or update resources in Web Scraper — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Web Scraper environment.
Downloading and saving files to disk is a Write operation (creates new files on the local system). It is not purely Read (it has the side effect of persisting data to disk), not Execute (no code is run), and not Destructive. Misuse could result in saving malicious files or filling disk space, hence medium severity.
From the tool's definition 'Download file from URL. Saves PDFs, images, documents directly.' — the tool writes/saves files to the local filesystem.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access download_file gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Web Scraper, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for download_file:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"download_file": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "download_file_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}download_file stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Download file from URL. Saves PDFs, images, documents directly. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Web Scraper MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Web Scraper MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for download_file: 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 Web Scraper. Nothing to install.
download_file is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the download_file 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 download_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.
download_file is provided by the Web Scraper MCP server (imyourboyroy/webscrapertoolkit). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Web Scraper, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
62 Web Scraper tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.