Returns the content of a single file in your vault.
AI agents call get_file_contents to retrieve information from Obsidian Modified without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This is a read-only operation that queries and retrieves file data without creating, modifying, or deleting content. However, severity is medium rather than low because in a personal knowledge vault context (Obsidian), file contents may contain sensitive personal information, financial data, health records, or private communications.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_file_contents' and description states it 'Returns the content of a single file in your vault' — a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Returns the content of a single file in your vault. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Obsidian Modified MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Obsidian Modified MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_file_contents: 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 Modified. Nothing to install.
get_file_contents 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 get_file_contents 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 get_file_contents. 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.
get_file_contents is provided by the Obsidian Modified MCP server (@marwansaab/obsidian-modified-mcp-server). 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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