Read a note
AI agents call vault_read to retrieve information from Connect MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves content from notes in an Obsidian vault without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a straightforward read operation that fits the 'Read' category. Severity is low because reading notes poses minimal security risk unless the vault contains highly sensitive information, but the tool itself performs no destructive or dangerous actions.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'vault_read' and description 'Read a note' explicitly indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Read a note. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Connect MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Connect MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for vault_read: 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 Connect MCP. Nothing to install.
vault_read 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 vault_read 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 vault_read. 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.
vault_read is provided by the Connect MCP server (joch/obsidian-connect-mcp). 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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