AI agents call get_file to retrieve information from Smokeball without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves file metadata by ID, which is a read-only operation with no side effects. It does not create, modify, delete, execute code, or involve financial transactions. The severity is low because metadata retrieval poses minimal risk to the law firm's practice management system—it merely provides information about existing files without affecting them.
From the tool's definition The tool name is 'get_file' and the description states it 'Get file metadata by ID.' This is a retrieval operation that queries and returns metadata about an existing file without modifying, executing, or deleting anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get file metadata by ID. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Smokeball MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Smokeball MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_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 Smokeball. Nothing to install.
get_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 get_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 get_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.
get_file is provided by the Smokeball MCP server (rosenadvertising/smokeball-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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