// MCP TOOL REFERENCE

file-delete

Permanently delete a file from your OpenAI account. This will remove the file from all vector stores and make it unavailable for future use. Use with caution as this action cannot be undone.

ServerUniversal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server
CategoryDestructive

How to control file-delete ↓

WHAT IT DOES

What file-delete does on Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server

AI agents call file-delete to permanently remove resources in Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server — typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.

THE RISK

Critical Risk

Why file-delete needs a policy

This tool permanently deletes files without recovery options, affecting all dependent vector stores. It is irreversible data destruction, making it Destructive rather than Write.

From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states: 'Permanently delete a file from your OpenAI account' and 'This will remove the file from all vector stores and make it unavailable for future use' and 'this action cannot be undone.' The word 'Permanently' and 'cannot be…

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access file-delete gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control file-delete

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for file-delete:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "file-delete"
  ]
}

file-delete disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.

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

RESTRICT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server tools

Destructive vector-store-delete Delete a vector store Destructive vector-store-file-delete Delete a file from a vector store Execute vector-store-file-batch-cancel Cancel a file batch Write file-upload Upload a local file to OpenAI for use with vector stores and assistants. This enables the Write upload-create Create a multipart upload session for large files (>25MB). This enables efficient upload o Write vector-store-create Create a new vector store Write vector-store-file-add Add an existing file to a vector store Write vector-store-file-batch-create Create a file batch for a vector store

All 21 Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server tools →

Destructive tools on other servers

Android Forensics ADB MCP Server create_full_backup 0xarchive web3_revoke_key Frida Game Hacking MCP clear_scan cPanel MCP Server clear_spam_box

Go deeper

Critical-risk tools in Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server → Every critical-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All critical-risk MCP tools → Every critical-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Blast radius → How much damage one compromised or confused agent can do — and how to bound it.
Tool call approval → Approval gates on individual tool calls: auto-allow, prompt, or deny.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about file-delete

What does the file-delete tool do? +

Permanently delete a file from your OpenAI account. This will remove the file from all vector stores and make it unavailable for future use. Use with caution as this action cannot be undone. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.

How do I enforce a policy on file-delete? +

Register the Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for file-delete: 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 Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is file-delete? +

file-delete is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.

Can I rate-limit file-delete? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the file-delete 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 file-delete completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for file-delete. 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 file-delete? +

file-delete is provided by the Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server MCP server (jezweb/openai-vector-assistant-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server tool call.

Start from Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →

Free to start. No card required.

21 Universal OpenAI Vector Store MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.