Find all semantic references to a PHP class or class member across the project. Returns type-aware results (not grep-based text matching).
AI agents call phpactor_find_references to retrieve information from Phpactor MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and queries information about PHP code references without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is purely informational—analyzing the codebase to answer questions about where symbols are used. Even in combination with sibling refactoring tools, this specific tool itself cannot cause side effects; it only surfaces data for inspection.
From the tool's definition Tool performs semantic search across project to 'find all semantic references' with 'type-aware results'. The verb 'find' and description of returning results indicate data retrieval with no modification capability.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Find all semantic references to a PHP class or class member across the project. Returns type-aware results (not grep-based text matching). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Phpactor MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Phpactor MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for phpactor_find_references: 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 Phpactor MCP Server. Nothing to install.
phpactor_find_references 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 phpactor_find_references 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 phpactor_find_references. 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.
phpactor_find_references is provided by the Phpactor MCP Server MCP server (p4it-kft/p4it-phpactor-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.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →