Get absolute paths to common user folders (Home, Documents, Downloads)
AI agents call get_user_paths to retrieve information from System Information MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only retrieves metadata about standard user directory locations. It has no side effects, does not modify any data, does not execute code, and does not delete anything. It falls clearly into the Read category as a simple information lookup. The severity is low because an agent could only misuse this to learn directory structures, which is not inherently harmful without subsequent operations on those paths.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_user_paths' and description 'Get absolute paths to common user folders (Home, Documents, Downloads)' indicate this retrieves or queries information about filesystem paths without modifying, deleting, or executing anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get absolute paths to common user folders (Home, Documents, Downloads). It is categorised as a Read tool in the System Information MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the System Information MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_user_paths: 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 System Information MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_user_paths 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_user_paths 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_user_paths. 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_user_paths is provided by the System Information MCP Server MCP server (markolive1501/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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