AI agents call get_recent to retrieve information from Apple Shortcuts without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries system state (recently accessed files) without modifying, executing, or destructing anything. It is a passive information-retrieval operation, consistent with the Read category. Severity is low because exposing recently accessed file metadata carries minimal risk compared to execution or destructive operations, though it does reveal some user activity history.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_recent' and description states 'Get recently accessed files' — a retrieval operation with no side effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_recent gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Apple Shortcuts, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_recent:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_recent": {}
}
}get_recent is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get recently accessed files. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Apple Shortcuts MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Apple Shortcuts MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_recent: 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 Apple Shortcuts. Nothing to install.
get_recent 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 get_recent 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 get_recent. 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.
get_recent is provided by the Apple Shortcuts MCP server (@mindstone/mcp-server-apple-shortcuts). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Apple Shortcuts, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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423 Apple Shortcuts tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.