Search the knowledge base using semantic similarity. Returns ranked chunks with source info. Use this to find relevant information before creating new resources.
AI agents call search_knowledge to retrieve information from Idea Basin without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs semantic search and retrieval operations on existing knowledge base data. It queries and returns information without modifying, creating, deleting, or executing anything. No data is changed, no code is executed, and no external operations are triggered.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states it 'Search[es] the knowledge base' and 'Returns ranked chunks with source info'.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search the knowledge base using semantic similarity. Returns ranked chunks with source info. Use this to find relevant information before creating new resources. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Idea Basin MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Idea Basin MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_knowledge: 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 Idea Basin. Nothing to install.
search_knowledge 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_knowledge 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_knowledge. 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_knowledge is provided by the Idea Basin MCP server (msfixer101/idea-basin-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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