messages_read

Read recent messages for one OpenClaw conversation.

SERVEROpenClaw SOURCEopenclaw

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity verified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/openclaw/messages-read.md

WHAT IT DOES

What messages_read does on OpenClaw

AI agents call messages_read to retrieve information from OpenClaw without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

RISK

Why messages_read is rated Low

This tool retrieves historical conversation data without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a straightforward query operation that fetches existing messages from a conversation thread. No destructive, write, or execute capabilities are present.

From the tool's definition Tool name contains 'read' and description states 'Read recent messages' - explicitly a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs messages_read safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and OpenClaw, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For messages_read, this is the rule to start with:

messages_read Allowed

messages_read is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "messages_read": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect OpenClaw, apply this rule, and every messages_read call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about messages_read

What does the messages_read tool do? +

Read recent messages for one OpenClaw conversation. It is categorised as a Read tool in the OpenClaw MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on messages_read? +

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

What risk level is messages_read? +

messages_read is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit messages_read? +

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

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

messages_read is provided by the OpenClaw MCP server (openclaw). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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