search_memory

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_memory needs a policy

This tool queries/searches existing memory data without creating, modifying, or deleting any information. It is a pure read operation with minimal risk. The semantic similarity search is a standard information retrieval pattern with no side effects beyond returning matching results.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_memory' and description 'Search through saved memories using semantic similarity' indicate a retrieval operation with no data modification.

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

POLICY

How to control search_memory

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

policy.json

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

search_memory 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 SAM — 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

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All 37 SAM 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_memory

What does the search_memory tool do? +

Search through saved memories using semantic similarity. It is categorised as a Read tool in the SAM MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_memory? +

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

What risk level is search_memory? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_memory? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_memory 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_memory completely? +

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

search_memory is provided by the SAM MCP server (pigrieco/mcp-memory-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every SAM tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →