analyze_file

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why analyze_file needs a policy

This tool retrieves and evaluates code quality metrics from a file without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing code. It produces analysis output but has no side effects on the codebase itself. The sibling tools (get_debt_summary, get_recommendations, check_dependencies) further confirm this server is designed for reporting and analysis rather than modification or execution.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'analyze_file' and description 'Analyze a single file for technical debt issues' indicate a query/inspection operation that examines code without modifying it.

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

POLICY

How to control analyze_file

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

policy.json

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

analyze_file 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 Tech Debt MCP Server — 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 Tech Debt MCP Server tools

Destructive remove_custom_rule Remove a custom rule by ID. Execute execute_custom_rules Execute all custom rules against code or a file. Write add_custom_rule Add a custom pattern-based tech debt rule. Read analyze_project Analyze an entire project for technical debt. Scans all supported files and returns a comp Read check_dependencies Analyze project dependencies across multiple package managers. Read get_debt_summary Get a quick summary of technical debt in a project. Read get_issues_by_category Get all issues of a specific category. Read get_issues_by_severity Get all issues of a specific severity level.

All 16 Tech Debt MCP Server 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 analyze_file

What does the analyze_file tool do? +

Analyze a single file for technical debt issues. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Tech Debt MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on analyze_file? +

Register the Tech Debt MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for analyze_file: 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 Tech Debt MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is analyze_file? +

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

Can I rate-limit analyze_file? +

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

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

analyze_file is provided by the Tech Debt MCP Server MCP server (pierrejanineh/techdebtmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Tech Debt MCP Server tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →