search_tools
Search all available KiCAD tools by keyword. Returns matching tool names and their categories.
This record as markdown: /tools/mixelpixx-kicad-mcp-server/search-tools.md
What search_tools does on KiCAD-MCP-Server
AI agents call search_tools to retrieve information from KiCAD-MCP-Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why search_tools is rated Low
This is a search/query function that discovers and lists KiCAD tools based on keywords. It has no side effects, creates no data modifications, and merely returns informational results. It falls squarely into the Read category with low severity since misuse would only result in information disclosure, not operational impact on the KiCAD project.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_tools' and description 'Search all available KiCAD tools by keyword. Returns matching tool names and their categories.' indicate a read-only query operation that retrieves information about available tools without modifying any data.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs search_tools safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and KiCAD-MCP-Server, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For search_tools, this is the rule to start with:
search_tools is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect KiCAD-MCP-Server, apply this rule, and every search_tools call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about search_tools
Search all available KiCAD tools by keyword. Returns matching tool names and their categories. It is categorised as a Read tool in the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_tools: 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.
search_tools 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 search_tools 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 search_tools. 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.
search_tools 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.
More on KiCAD-MCP-Server, and thousands of servers like it.
This server
Across the catalogue