ytdlp_search_videos

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why ytdlp_search_videos needs a policy

ytdlp_search_videos is a retrieval operation that searches for videos without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations on data. This is a standard read-only query operation with minimal blast radius if misused by an AI agent—the worst outcome would be discovery of unintended video content.

From the tool's definition Tool performs search functionality on YouTube with 'keywords with pagination and date filtering support' — a query operation with no data modification, deletion, or execution of external code.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access ytdlp_search_videos gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control ytdlp_search_videos

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and YouTube MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for ytdlp_search_videos:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "ytdlp_search_videos": {}
  }
}

ytdlp_search_videos is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register YouTube 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.

CAP THIS TOOL →

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More YouTube MCP Server tools

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about ytdlp_search_videos

What does the ytdlp_search_videos tool do? +

Search for videos on YouTube using keywords with pagination and date filtering support. This tool queries YouTube. It is categorised as a Read tool in the YouTube MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on ytdlp_search_videos? +

Register the YouTube MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ytdlp_search_videos: 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 YouTube MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is ytdlp_search_videos? +

ytdlp_search_videos is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit ytdlp_search_videos? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the ytdlp_search_videos 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 ytdlp_search_videos completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for ytdlp_search_videos. 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 ytdlp_search_videos? +

ytdlp_search_videos is provided by the YouTube MCP Server MCP server (kevinwatt/yt-dlp-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every YouTube MCP Server tool call.

Start from YouTube 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 →