AI agents call search_context to retrieve information from Handoff without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and queries existing data (searching across stored patterns, decisions, and snapshots) without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a read-only retrieval operation with no side effects, fitting the 'Read' category.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'search_context' and description states 'Full-text search across patterns, decisions, and snapshots.' Search operations are query-only with no modification of data.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Full-text search across patterns, decisions, and snapshots. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Handoff MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Handoff MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_context: 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 Handoff. Nothing to install.
search_context 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 search_context 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 search_context. 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.
search_context is provided by the Handoff MCP server (juan-severiano/handoff-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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