manage_folder

THE RISK

Critical Risk

The tool explicitly supports deleting folders, which is irreversible and could destroy entire subtrees of notes. Even rename/move operations on folders can have cascading effects on note links and organization. The most severe applicable category is Destructive due to the delete capability, and severity is high because misuse could wipe out entire folder hierarchies containing many notes.

From the tool's definition Create, rename, move, or delete a folder in the Obsidian vault

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

HOW TO CONTROL MANAGE_FOLDER

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

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "manage_folder"
  ]
}

manage_folder disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.

Create a free account and register Obsidian MCP — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

RESTRICT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

More Obsidian MCP tools

Destructive delete_note Delete a note from the Obsidian vault Write auto_backlink_vault Automatically add backlinks throughout the entire vault by detecting note names in content Write create_note Create a new note in the Obsidian vault Write move_note Move or rename a note to a new location in the Obsidian vault Write update_note Update content in an existing note using text replacements or precise insertions Read list_notes List notes in the Obsidian vault. By default lists all notes recursively. Read read_multiple_notes Read content from multiple notes simultaneously Read read_note Read the content of a note in the Obsidian vault

All 11 Obsidian MCP tools →

Destructive tools on other servers

Frida Game Hacking MCP clear_scan MegaMemory remove_concept Frida Agent MCP kill_app 1MCP Server mcp_uninstall

Go deeper

Critical-risk tools in Obsidian MCP → Every critical-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All critical-risk MCP tools → Every critical-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

What does the manage_folder tool do? +

Create, rename, move, or delete a folder in the Obsidian vault. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Obsidian MCP MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.

How do I enforce a policy on manage_folder? +

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

What risk level is manage_folder? +

manage_folder is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.

Can I rate-limit manage_folder? +

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

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

manage_folder is provided by the Obsidian MCP server (newtype-01/obsidian-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Obsidian MCP tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 11 Obsidian MCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

GOVERN OBSIDIAN →

Free to start. No card required.

11 Obsidian MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

// WHAT MANAGE_FOLDER ON OBSIDIAN MCP DOES

// THE RISK

// HOW TO CONTROL MANAGE_FOLDER

// EXPLORE