Find UI elements by resource ID or text using UIAutomator
AI agents call android_uiautomator_find to retrieve information from Android MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries Android UI structure to locate elements, which is a read operation with no side effects on data or system state. However, severity is elevated to 'medium' rather than 'low' because the discovered UI element information could be sensitive (e.g., revealing private app layouts, credentials in UI text, or personal data displayed on screen), and in combination with sibling tools like android_input_text…
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Find UI elements by resource ID or text using UIAutomator' — a query/search operation that retrieves UI element information without modifying device state.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Find UI elements by resource ID or text using UIAutomator. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Android MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Android MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for android_uiautomator_find: 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 Android MCP Server. Nothing to install.
android_uiautomator_find 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 android_uiautomator_find 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 android_uiautomator_find. 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.
android_uiautomator_find is provided by the Android MCP Server MCP server (jduartedj/android-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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