Get basic information about notes from database (experimental)
AI agents call list_notes_basic to retrieve information from Bear MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries note metadata from a local Bear database and returns basic information without creating, modifying, or deleting any data. Even though marked 'experimental', it performs no write, execute, destructive, or financial operations. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an attacker could learn about the user's notes but cannot alter them.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_notes_basic' and description 'Get basic information about notes from database' indicate a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects. The word 'get' and the passive retrieval semantics confirm this is a read-only query.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get basic information about notes from database (experimental). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Bear MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Bear MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_notes_basic: 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 Bear MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_notes_basic 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 list_notes_basic 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 list_notes_basic. 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.
list_notes_basic is provided by the Bear MCP Server MCP server (philgetzen/bear-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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