Medium Risk

copy_file

copy_file

How to control copy_file ↓

What copy_file does on Openstudio

AI agents use copy_file to create or update resources in Openstudio — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Openstudio environment.

Medium Risk

Why copy_file needs a policy

File copying is a reversible write operation that creates data (duplicate file) without destructive effects. The empty description lowers confidence slightly, but the tool name clearly indicates a write-class action.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'copy_file' indicates file copying operation; description is empty and provides no additional context.

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

How to control copy_file

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

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "copy_file": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "copy_file_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

copy_file stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register Openstudio — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
LIMIT THIS TOOL →

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Related tools and policies

Go deeper

Questions about copy_file

What does the copy_file tool do? +

copy_file. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Openstudio MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on copy_file? +

Register the Openstudio MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for copy_file: 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 Openstudio. Nothing to install.

What risk level is copy_file? +

copy_file is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit copy_file? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the copy_file 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 copy_file completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for copy_file. 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 copy_file? +

copy_file is provided by the Openstudio MCP server (natlabrockies/openstudio-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Openstudio tool call.

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

Free to start. No card required.

146 Openstudio tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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