Find symbol definitions by name across supported source files.
AI agents call find_definition to retrieve information from Syntax Map without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a read-only search operation to locate symbol definitions in code. It retrieves and returns information without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any code. The absence of write, destructive, execute, or financial side effects, combined with the passive nature of definition lookup, places it clearly in the Read category with low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states 'Find symbol definitions by name across supported source files' — a lookup/query operation with no data modification or execution capability.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Find symbol definitions by name across supported source files. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Syntax Map MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Syntax Map MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for find_definition: 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 Syntax Map. Nothing to install.
find_definition 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 find_definition 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 find_definition. 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.
find_definition is provided by the Syntax Map MCP server (kht6163/syntax-map-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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