read_text_file

Read a local text file (txt/md/xml/json/etc) and return a bounded text slice. Deterministic, no network.

SERVERNodebench SOURCEnodebench-mcp

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-homenshum-nodebench/read-text-file.md

WHAT IT DOES

What read_text_file does on Nodebench

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

RISK

Why read_text_file is rated Low

This tool retrieves and returns bounded slices of local file content. It performs no modifications, deletion, execution, or network operations. The deterministic, local-only nature and explicit read-only framing place it firmly in the Read category with low severity since misuse would only expose file contents the agent already has filesystem access to.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'read_text_file' and description explicitly states it 'Read[s] a local text file' with 'Deterministic, no network' — pure retrieval with no side effects.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs read_text_file safely

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

read_text_file Allowed

read_text_file 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": {
    "read_text_file": {}
  }
}

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

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

FAQ

Questions about read_text_file

What does the read_text_file tool do? +

Read a local text file (txt/md/xml/json/etc) and return a bounded text slice. Deterministic, no network. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Nodebench MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on read_text_file? +

Register the Nodebench MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for read_text_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 Nodebench. Nothing to install.

What risk level is read_text_file? +

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

Can I rate-limit read_text_file? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the read_text_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.

How do I block read_text_file completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for read_text_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.

What MCP server provides read_text_file? +

read_text_file is provided by the Nodebench MCP server (nodebench-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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