search_code

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_code needs a policy

This tool retrieves or queries code data from GitHub repositories without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is purely informational and has no destructive or side-effect capabilities. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could retrieve sensitive code but cannot alter or delete it.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_code' and description 'Search for code across GitHub repositories' indicate a query operation with no side effects. The verb 'search' is explicitly listed in the Read category examples.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_code gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control search_code

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and GitHub MCP Server Plus, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for search_code:

policy.json

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

search_code is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register GitHub MCP Server Plus — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More GitHub MCP Server Plus tools

Write add_issue_comment Add a comment to an existing issue Write create_branch Create a new branch in a GitHub repository Write create_issue Create a new issue in a GitHub repository Write create_or_update_file Create or update a single file in a GitHub repository Write create_pull_request Create a new pull request in a GitHub repository Write create_repository Create a new GitHub repository in your account Write fork_repository Fork a GitHub repository to your account or specified organization Write push_files_content Push multiple files with direct content to a GitHub repository in a single commit

All 18 GitHub MCP Server Plus tools →

Read tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server get_torrent_detail YouTube MCP Server search_channel Android Forensics ADB MCP Server parse_browser_history 0xarchive web3_challenge

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about search_code

What does the search_code tool do? +

Search for code across GitHub repositories. It is categorised as a Read tool in the GitHub MCP Server Plus MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_code? +

Register the GitHub MCP Server Plus MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_code: 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 GitHub MCP Server Plus. Nothing to install.

What risk level is search_code? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_code? +

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

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

search_code is provided by the GitHub MCP Server Plus MCP server (phialsbasement/mcp-github-server-plus). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every GitHub MCP Server Plus tool call.

Start from GitHub MCP Server Plus, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →