Read the complete contents of a file from the file system as text. Handles various text encodings and provides detailed error messages if the file cannot be read. Use this tool when you need to examine the contents of a single file. Use the
AI agents call read_text_file to retrieve information from FilesystemMCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only retrieves file contents with no side effects. It performs a read-only operation on the filesystem. Even though the server enables write/delete capabilities via sibling tools, this specific tool is restricted to reading data. The low severity reflects minimal risk if misused—an AI agent would gain information access but cannot alter or destroy data.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'read_text_file' and description states 'Read the complete contents of a file from the file system as text'.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Read the complete contents of a file from the file system as text. Handles various text encodings and provides detailed error messages if the file cannot be read. Use this tool when you need to examine the contents of a single file. Use the. It is categorised as a Read tool in the FilesystemMCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Filesystem MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for read_text_file: 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 FilesystemMCP. Nothing to install.
read_text_file 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 read_text_file 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 read_text_file. 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.
read_text_file is provided by the Filesystem MCP server (rijadalisic/filesystemmcp). 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 →