Search for regex patterns across all files in a directory.
AI agents call search_directory to retrieve information from MCP File Editor Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs pattern matching and retrieval across files—a read-only operation with no side effects. It does not create, modify, delete, execute code, or commit financial actions. The search capability is informational only, making it the least severe category.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_directory' and description 'Search for regex patterns across all files in a directory' indicate querying/retrieval operations with no modification capability.
Risk signalsBulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search for regex patterns across all files in a directory. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP File Editor Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the MCP File Editor Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_directory: 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 MCP File Editor Server. Nothing to install.
search_directory 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_directory 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_directory. 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_directory is provided by the MCP File Editor Server MCP server (pwilkin/mcp-file-edit). 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 →