search_files

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_files needs a policy

The search_files tool performs read-only operations on repository contents. It queries and retrieves matching files based on search criteria but does not create, modify, delete, or execute any code. GitHub Code Search is inherently a retrieval mechanism with no side effects.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Search file contents across a GitHub repository using GitHub Code Search' - this is a query/search operation that retrieves data without modifying it.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_files gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control search_files

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Gitbridge, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for search_files:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "search_files": {}
  }
}

search_files is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Gitbridge — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Gitbridge tools

Destructive delete_file Delete a file from a GitHub repository. This is a destructive operation — the file will be Write add_issue_comment Add a comment to an existing GitHub Issue Write create_issue Create a new GitHub Issue in a repository Write create_repo Create a new GitHub repository on a personal account or within an organization Write flush_queue Commit all queued writes for a repository in a single GitHub commit. Call queue_write firs Write move_file Move or rename a file. Reads from old path, writes to new path, then returns a GitHub link Write push_multiple_files Create or update multiple files in a single commit using the Git Data API Write queue_write Queue a file write for batch commit. Writes are held in server memory and flushed together

All 16 Gitbridge tools →

Read tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server get_torrent_detail YouTube MCP Server search_channel Android Forensics ADB MCP Server parse_browser_history 0xarchive web3_challenge

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about search_files

What does the search_files tool do? +

Search file contents across a GitHub repository using GitHub Code Search. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Gitbridge MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_files? +

Register the Gitbridge MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_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 Gitbridge. Nothing to install.

What risk level is search_files? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_files? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_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.

How do I block search_files completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for search_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.

What MCP server provides search_files? +

search_files is provided by the Gitbridge MCP server (iotus/gitbridge-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Gitbridge tool call.

Start from Gitbridge, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →