search_footprints

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_footprints needs a policy

This tool searches and retrieves footprint data from libraries without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a read-only retrieval function consistent with the Read category (search, list, get, fetch patterns). Low severity due to no side effects or blast radius risk.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_footprints' and description 'Search for footprints matching a pattern across all libraries' indicate a query/retrieval operation with no data modification.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_footprints gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control search_footprints

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and KiCAD-MCP-Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for search_footprints:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "search_footprints": {}
  }
}

search_footprints is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register KiCAD-MCP-Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

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Read tools on other servers

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about search_footprints

What does the search_footprints tool do? +

Search for footprints matching a pattern across all libraries. It is categorised as a Read tool in the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_footprints? +

Register the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_footprints: 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 KiCAD-MCP-Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is search_footprints? +

search_footprints is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit search_footprints? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_footprints 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.

How do I block search_footprints completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for search_footprints. 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.

What MCP server provides search_footprints? +

search_footprints is provided by the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server (mixelpixx/kicad-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every KiCAD-MCP-Server tool call.

Start from KiCAD-MCP-Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →