Search file contents under a directory and return matching line snippets.
AI agents call files_search to retrieve information from Promethean OS MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs content searching and returns matching results (line snippets) without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is a passive read operation with no side effects. The blast radius is minimal as misuse would only expose data already accessible to the agent's file system permissions.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'files_search' and description 'Search file contents under a directory and return matching line snippets' indicate retrieval of data without modification or execution.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search file contents under a directory and return matching line snippets. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Promethean OS MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Promethean OS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for files_search: 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 Promethean OS MCP. Nothing to install.
files_search 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 files_search 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 files_search. 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.
files_search is provided by the Promethean OS MCP server (octave-commons/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.
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