Search contacts. Uses traditional search since unified_search doesn't support contacts.
AI agents call search_contacts to retrieve information from Microsoft MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The tool retrieves contact information through search functionality. It returns matching contacts without creating, modifying, or deleting any data. This is a classic Read operation with minimal blast radius—an AI misusing it could only over-query or expose contact information it already has access to, not cause irreversible harm or financial impact.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states 'Search contacts' and performs a query operation with 'no side effects' characteristic of read operations. The mechanism uses 'traditional search' which retrieves but does not modify data.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search contacts. Uses traditional search since unified_search doesn't support contacts. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Microsoft MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Microsoft MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_contacts: 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 Microsoft MCP. Nothing to install.
search_contacts 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 search_contacts 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 search_contacts. 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.
search_contacts is provided by the Microsoft MCP server (purva-kashyap/microsoft-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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