status

Returns the working tree status as structured data (branch, staged, modified, untracked, conflicts).

SERVERGithub SOURCE@paretools/github

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-dave-london-github/status.md

WHAT IT DOES

What status does on Github

AI agents call status 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 status is rated Low

This is a read-only operation that queries and retrieves git repository state information. It produces no side effects, does not modify data, and simply surfaces existing state as structured output. Appropriate for the Read category with low severity since it only exposes repository metadata.

From the tool's definition Tool returns working tree status information including branch, staged, modified, untracked files, and conflicts. Uses verb 'Returns' indicating query operation with no modifications or side effects.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

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

status Allowed

status 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": {
    "status": {}
  }
}

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 status call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about status

What does the status tool do? +

Returns the working tree status as structured data (branch, staged, modified, untracked, conflicts). 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 status? +

Register the Github MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for status: 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 status? +

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

Can I rate-limit status? +

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

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

status is provided by the Github MCP server (@paretools/github). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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