Find tools by keyword/category before tools/list. In --lazy-tools mode, call this first then tools/schema, or set includeSchema:true to return each match
AI agents call searchTools to retrieve information from Patchwork Os without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This is a pure read/query operation that searches and retrieves metadata about available tools without side effects. It helps discover tool availability and schema information. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could enumerate tools it shouldn't know about, but cannot execute them or modify data.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'searchTools' and description indicate it 'finds tools by keyword/category' and returns matches, supporting tools/list and tools/schema queries. No modification, deletion, execution, or financial operations occur.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access searchTools gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Patchwork Os, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for searchTools:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"searchTools": {}
}
}searchTools is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
Find tools by keyword/category before tools/list. In --lazy-tools mode, call this first then tools/schema, or set includeSchema:true to return each match. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Patchwork Os MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Patchwork Os MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for searchTools: 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 Patchwork Os. Nothing to install.
searchTools 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 searchTools 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 searchTools. 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.
searchTools is provided by the Patchwork Os MCP server (oolab-labs/patchwork-os). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Patchwork Os, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
11 Patchwork Os tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.