Get recently accessed files from the current user
AI agents call get_recent_files 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 only queries and retrieves metadata about recently accessed files. It does not create, modify, delete, or execute anything. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an attacker could learn which files a user recently opened, but cannot access file contents, modify files, or trigger actions. Categorized as Read with low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_recent_files' and description states it 'Get recently accessed files from the current user' — a pure retrieval operation with no modifications, deletions, or execution.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_recent_files 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_files:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_recent_files": {}
}
}get_recent_files 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 from the current user. 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_files: 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_files 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_files 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_files. 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_files 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.