# read_file

Read a file from the virtual filesystem (worker mock)

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `read_file`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/read-file

## Facts

- Tool: `read_file`
- Server: Claude Flow (`claude-flow`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow.md
- Install: `npx -y claude-flow`
- Homepage: https://github.com/ruvnet/claude-flow
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "read_file",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why read_file is rated Low

This tool retrieves file contents without side effects. It performs a read-only operation on a virtual filesystem mock, posing minimal risk even if misused by an AI agent—it cannot modify, delete, or execute anything.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name is 'read_file' and description states 'Read a file from the virtual filesystem (worker mock)'. The verb 'read' and absence of modification language clearly indicate data retrieval only."

## Use case

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

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Claude Flow:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "read_file": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Claude Flow (495)

- `agent_terminate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-terminate.md
- `agentdb_batch` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-batch.md
- `agentdb_causal-edge-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-causal-edge-delete.md
- `agentdb_causal-node-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-causal-node-delete.md
- `agentdb_hierarchical-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-hierarchical-delete.md
- `agenticow_rollback` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agenticow-rollback.md
- `autopilot_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/autopilot-reset.md
- `config_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/config-reset.md
- `federation_wg_keyrotate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/federation-wg-keyrotate.md
- `hooks_codemod` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-codemod.md
- `hooks_intelligence-reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-intelligence-reset.md
- `hooks_worker-cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-worker-cancel.md
- `iot_device_remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-device-remove.md
- `iot_firmware_rollout_rollback` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-firmware-rollout-rollback.md
- `iot_fleet_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-fleet-delete.md
- `iot_fleet_remove_device` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-fleet-remove-device.md
- `managed_agent_terminate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/managed-agent-terminate.md
- `memory_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/memory-delete.md
- `policy_revoke` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/policy-revoke.md
- `ruvector_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/ruvector-delete.md
- `session_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/session-delete.md
- `system_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/system-reset.md
- `task_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/task-cancel.md
- `teammate_cleanup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/teammate-cleanup.md
- `wasm_agent_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/wasm-agent-reset.md
- `wasm_gallery_remove_custom` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/wasm-gallery-remove-custom.md
- `workflow_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/workflow-cancel.md
- `workflow_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/workflow-delete.md
- `agent_pool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-pool.md
- `agent_spawn` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-spawn.md
- …and 465 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow