AI agents call variable_documentation to retrieve information from Ragmacs 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 lookup of variable documentation strings from an Emacs instance. It retrieves metadata about variables without side effects, making it a Read category tool. The severity is low because documentation queries pose minimal risk - they cannot modify state, execute arbitrary code, or cause harm.
From the tool's definition Tool returns the docstring for a defvar or defcustom - a pure query operation that retrieves documentation without modifying any state or executing code.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Return the docstring for a defvar or defcustom. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Ragmacs MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Ragmacs MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for variable_documentation: 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 Ragmacs. Nothing to install.
variable_documentation 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 variable_documentation 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 variable_documentation. 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.
variable_documentation is provided by the Ragmacs MCP server (landermkerbey/ragmacs-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
variable_documentation is one line of Ragmacs's registry record.
The record carries the whole server: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, every tool classified, recommended policy — re-checked continuously.
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