AI agents call get_reading_stats to retrieve information from Hardcover 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 (reading statistics such as total books and books per status) with no side effects, creation, modification, or deletion. It is a pure read operation fitting the Read category. The low severity reflects minimal blast radius—misuse would only expose personal reading data, not enable destructive or financial harm.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_reading_stats' and description 'Get library reading statistics' indicate a retrieval operation that queries aggregate data about the user's reading activity without modifying any state.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get library reading statistics: total books, books per status,. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Hardcover MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Hardcover MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_reading_stats: 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 Hardcover. Nothing to install.
get_reading_stats 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 get_reading_stats 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 get_reading_stats. 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.
get_reading_stats is provided by the Hardcover MCP server (kristianedlund/hardcover-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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