get_file_contents

Get file or directory contents

SERVERGitHub SOURCEoci:ghcr.io/aifity/omnigit-mcp:0.5.0

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/io-github-aifity-omnigit-mcp/get-file-contents.md

WHAT IT DOES

What get_file_contents does on GitHub

AI agents call get_file_contents to retrieve information from GitHub without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

RISK

Why get_file_contents is rated Low

This tool performs a read-only operation that queries and returns file or directory contents from a GitHub repository. It has no capability to modify, delete, or execute code. The blast radius of misuse is minimal — an agent could read sensitive files if they exist in the repo, but this is a standard read operation.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_file_contents' and description states 'Get file or directory contents' — retrieves data with no modification or side effects.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs get_file_contents safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and GitHub, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For get_file_contents, this is the rule to start with:

get_file_contents Allowed

get_file_contents 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": {
    "get_file_contents": {}
  }
}

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

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

FAQ

Questions about get_file_contents

What does the get_file_contents tool do? +

Get file or directory contents. It is categorised as a Read tool in the GitHub MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on get_file_contents? +

Register the GitHub MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_file_contents: 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 GitHub. Nothing to install.

What risk level is get_file_contents? +

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

Can I rate-limit get_file_contents? +

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

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

get_file_contents is provided by the GitHub MCP server (oci:ghcr.io/aifity/omnigit-mcp:0.5.0). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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