read_resource

Read additional files from an installed skill (resources/, scripts/, templates/, etc.). Use after skills:find with depth=3 to see available files.

SERVERNcp SOURCE@portel/ncp

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-portel-dev-ncp/read-resource.md

WHAT IT DOES

What read_resource does on Ncp

AI agents call read_resource to retrieve information from Ncp 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_resource is rated Low

This tool retrieves and queries file contents from skill directories. It performs no modifications, deletions, or external operations—purely informational access. The low severity reflects minimal blast radius if misused: an AI agent could read sensitive internal files, but cannot modify or delete them. The high confidence reflects clear evidence in both the tool name and explicit description.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'read_resource' and description explicitly states 'Read additional files from an installed skill'.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs read_resource safely

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

read_resource Allowed

read_resource 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_resource": {}
  }
}

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

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

FAQ

Questions about read_resource

What does the read_resource tool do? +

Read additional files from an installed skill (resources/, scripts/, templates/, etc.). Use after skills:find with depth=3 to see available files. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Ncp MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on read_resource? +

Register the Ncp MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for read_resource: 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 Ncp. Nothing to install.

What risk level is read_resource? +

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

Can I rate-limit read_resource? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the read_resource 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_resource completely? +

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

read_resource is provided by the Ncp MCP server (@portel/ncp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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