empty_dirs
List empty directories (deepest first); remove=true deletes them bottom-up.
This record as markdown: /tools/mcp-hands/empty-dirs.md
What empty_dirs does on Mcp Hands
AI agents call empty_dirs to permanently remove resources in Mcp Hands, typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.
Why empty_dirs is rated Critical
An AI agent that decides to call empty_dirs doesn't hesitate, doesn't double-check, and doesn't stop at one. Whatever it removes from Mcp Hands is gone. There is no undo for destructive operations.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs empty_dirs safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Mcp Hands, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For empty_dirs, this is the rule to start with:
empty_dirs is removed from the agent's tool list entirely, so the agent never calls it. The rest of the server keeps working.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Mcp Hands, apply this rule, and every empty_dirs call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about empty_dirs
List empty directories (deepest first); remove=true deletes them bottom-up. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Mcp Hands MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.
Register the Mcp Hands MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for empty_dirs: 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 Mcp Hands. Nothing to install.
empty_dirs is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the empty_dirs 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 empty_dirs. 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.
empty_dirs is provided by the Mcp Hands MCP server (huocai250/mcp-hands). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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