GitHub repository metadata: full name, owner, description, stars, forks, watchers, open issues, primary language, topics, SPDX license, default branch, homepage, archived flag, and created/updated/pushed timestamps. Read-only; no GitHub key needed by the caller.
AI agents call github.repo to retrieve information from Mcp without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only queries and retrieves publicly available GitHub repository metadata with no side effects, no authentication requirements, and no ability to modify data. It is a straightforward read operation. The low severity reflects minimal blast radius—an AI agent calling this tool cannot cause harm beyond potentially gathering reconnaissance information about public repositories.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states "Read-only; no GitHub key needed by the caller" and retrieves repository metadata (name, owner, description, stars, forks, watchers, open issues, language, topics, license, branch, homepage, archived flag, timestamps).
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
GitHub repository metadata: full name, owner, description, stars, forks, watchers, open issues, primary language, topics, SPDX license, default branch, homepage, archived flag, and created/updated/pushed timestamps. Read-only; no GitHub key needed by the caller. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mcp MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for github.repo: 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 Mcp. Nothing to install.
github.repo 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 github.repo 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 github.repo. 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.
github.repo is provided by the MCP server (@2sio/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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