Find files by pattern in a directory
AI agents call find_files to retrieve information from MCP Start App without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The tool retrieves file metadata matching a pattern—a read-only operation analogous to 'find' or 'ls' commands. It does not create, modify, delete, or execute anything. No security boundary is crossed by listing files that match a pattern, assuming standard file permission controls apply. Low severity because discovering files poses minimal risk even if misused by an agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'find_files' with description 'Find files by pattern in a directory'. This is a search/query operation with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Find files by pattern in a directory. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Start App MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the MCP Start App MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for find_files: 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 MCP Start App. Nothing to install.
find_files 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 find_files 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 find_files. 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.
find_files is provided by the MCP Start App MCP server (nexus-aissam/mcp-local). 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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