Backlinks for a given note path.
AI agents call get_backlinks to retrieve information from brainMD without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves metadata about which notes reference a given note (backlinks), which is a read-only query operation. No data is created, modified, deleted, or executed. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could spam queries but cannot alter the vault's state. It aligns with the 'Read' category alongside sibling tools like list_notes, find_related, and find_similar_tasks.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_backlinks' and description 'Backlinks for a given note path' indicate retrieval of existing reference data with no modification. The action is a query/lookup operation on the vault's internal link graph.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_backlinks gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and brainMD, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_backlinks:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_backlinks": {}
}
}get_backlinks is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Backlinks for a given note path. It is categorised as a Read tool in the brainMD MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the brainMD MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_backlinks: 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 brainMD. Nothing to install.
get_backlinks 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_backlinks 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_backlinks. 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_backlinks is provided by the brainMD MCP server (mi4uu/brain.md). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from brainMD, 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 brainMD tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.