This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-dave-london-cargo/search.md
What search does on Cargo
AI agents call search to retrieve information from Cargo without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why search is rated Low
This tool performs a query operation against the npm registry to retrieve information about packages. It retrieves data without creating, modifying, executing code, or deleting anything. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could perform excessive searches but cannot cause harm beyond resource consumption. This is clearly a Read category tool.
From the tool's definition The tool description states it 'Searches the npm registry for packages matching a query.' The verb 'searches' and 'matching a query' indicate a read-only operation with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs search safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Cargo, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For search, this is the rule to start with:
search 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 Cargo, apply this rule, and every search call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about search
Searches the npm registry for packages matching a query. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Cargo MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Cargo MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search: 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 Cargo. Nothing to install.
search 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 search 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 search. 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.
search is provided by the Cargo MCP server (Dave-London/Pare). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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