Get the contents of a file or directory from a GitHub repository
AI agents call get-file-contents to retrieve information from GitHub Enterprise MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves data from a repository without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is a straightforward read operation analogous to fetching or querying data. The low severity reflects minimal risk even if misused by an agent, as it only exposes existing repository content.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get-file-contents' and description 'Get the contents of a file or directory from a GitHub repository' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get the contents of a file or directory from a GitHub repository. It is categorised as a Read tool in the GitHub Enterprise MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the GitHub Enterprise MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get-file-contents: 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 GitHub Enterprise MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get-file-contents 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-file-contents 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-file-contents. 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-file-contents is provided by the GitHub Enterprise MCP Server MCP server (lessinthought/github-enterprice-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
get-file-contents is one line of GitHub Enterprise MCP Server'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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