AI agents call scan_and_protect to retrieve information from Psamvault without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The scan operation retrieves and analyzes file contents to identify exposed secrets—a read activity. Although 'protect' suggests a write component, scanning is the core function and takes precedence in classification.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Scan a project directory for exposed secrets in .env files and protect them.' The 'scan' operation is fundamentally a read action that examines files to detect secrets.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
[🔑 API Key Operations] Scan a project directory for exposed secrets in .env files and protect them. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Psamvault MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Psamvault MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for scan_and_protect: 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 Psamvault. Nothing to install.
scan_and_protect 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 scan_and_protect 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 scan_and_protect. 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.
scan_and_protect is provided by the Psamvault MCP server (psam-717/psamvault-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.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →