This record as markdown: /tools/karbassi-slack-mcp/search-inline.md
What search_inline does on Slack
AI agents call search_inline to retrieve information from Slack without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why search_inline is rated Low
The tool name 'search_inline' indicates a search/query operation, which is a Read category action that retrieves data. While the description is empty, the server context clearly identifies search as a read-only capability.
From the tool's definition Tool named 'search_inline' on a Slack MCP server described as providing 'full access to Slack: messages, channels, files, canvases, lists, search, reactions, and more.' The 'search' functionality is explicitly mentioned as part of the server's capabilities.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs search_inline safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Slack, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For search_inline, this is the rule to start with:
search_inline is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Slack, apply this rule, and every search_inline call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about search_inline
search_inline is a read tool on the Slack MCP server. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Slack MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Slack MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_inline: 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 Slack. Nothing to install.
search_inline 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_inline 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_inline. 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_inline is provided by the Slack MCP server (karbassi/slack-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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