Archive · Nexus MCP for Obsidian MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What Archive does on Nexus MCP for Obsidian

AI agents use Archive to create or update resources in Nexus MCP for Obsidian — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Nexus MCP for Obsidian environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why Archive needs a policy

Archiving is a reversible modification operation—files are moved but not destroyed, and they can be recovered from the .archive/ directory. This fits the Write category (modifies data reversibly) rather than Destructive (which would require permanent, irreversible deletion). The severity is low because the action is non-destructive, localized to the user's vault, and easily reversible.

From the tool's definition Tool moves files or folders to a .archive/ directory with timestamp. This is described as 'safely archive', indicating a reversible operation that modifies file locations but does not permanently delete data.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

Archive Rate-limited

Archive stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "Archive": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "archive_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Nexus MCP for Obsidian, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about Archive

What does the Archive tool do? +

Safely archive a file or folder (moves to .archive/ with timestamp). It is categorised as a Write tool in the Nexus MCP for Obsidian MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on Archive? +

Register the Nexus MCP for Obsidian MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for Archive: 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 Nexus MCP for Obsidian. Nothing to install.

What risk level is Archive? +

Archive is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit Archive? +

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

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

Archive is provided by the Nexus MCP for Obsidian MCP server (profsynapse/nexus). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.