Get the full content of a Cortex skill file.
AI agents call cortex_get_skill to retrieve information from Cortex MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves skill file content without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. The verb 'Get' and the retrieval-only purpose align with the Read category. Severity is low because retrieving skill metadata poses minimal risk to system integrity, even if misused by an agent.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Get the full content of a Cortex skill file' — a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get the full content of a Cortex skill file. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Cortex MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Cortex MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for cortex_get_skill: 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 Cortex MCP. Nothing to install.
cortex_get_skill 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 cortex_get_skill 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 cortex_get_skill. 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.
cortex_get_skill is provided by the Cortex MCP server (neuralnexustech/cortex-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.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →