Get all Symbol Instances in the Sketch document
AI agents call getSymbolInstances to retrieve information from Sketch 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 design element data (symbol instances) from a Sketch document. It performs no side effects, data modification, code execution, or destructive operations. It is purely informational, consistent with other Read-category tools on the server like getNodeInfo, getDocumentStructure, and getPageStructure.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'getSymbolInstances' and description states 'Get all Symbol Instances in the Sketch document' — a retrieval operation with no modification or execution capability.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access getSymbolInstances gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Sketch, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for getSymbolInstances:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"getSymbolInstances": {}
}
}getSymbolInstances is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get all Symbol Instances in the Sketch document. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Sketch MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Sketch MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for getSymbolInstances: 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 Sketch. Nothing to install.
getSymbolInstances 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 getSymbolInstances 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 getSymbolInstances. 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.
getSymbolInstances is provided by the Sketch MCP server (mater1996/sketch-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Sketch, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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17 Sketch tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.