AI agents call web.search to retrieve information from Earch MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries the Brave Search API and returns search results. It has no side effects—it only retrieves and presents information. No data is created, modified, deleted, or executed. This is a classic Read operation with low risk of misuse.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'web.search' and description 'returns results for query q' indicate a query operation that retrieves data without modifying, deleting, or executing code.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Brave Web Search: returns results for query q. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Earch MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Earch MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for web.search: 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 Earch MCP. Nothing to install.
web.search 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 web.search 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 web.search. 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.
web.search is provided by the Earch MCP server (nanameru/search-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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