detect_project

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why detect_project needs a policy

The tool examines project metadata and structure to extract information about type, language, framework, build system, and tooling. This is a reconnaissance/profiling operation with no capability to modify, delete, or execute code. It belongs to the Read category as it retrieves and queries project information without side effects.

From the tool's definition Tool performs analysis and generates a profile (read-only operations). Description uses 'analyze' and 'generate profile' with no mention of modifications, deletions, or side effects.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access detect_project gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control detect_project

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and MCP DevTools Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for detect_project:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "detect_project": {}
  }
}

detect_project is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register MCP DevTools Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about detect_project

What does the detect_project tool do? +

Analyze project and generate comprehensive profile including type, language, framework, build system, and tooling. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP DevTools Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on detect_project? +

Register the MCP DevTools Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for detect_project: 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 DevTools Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is detect_project? +

detect_project is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit detect_project? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the detect_project 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.

How do I block detect_project completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for detect_project. 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.

What MCP server provides detect_project? +

detect_project is provided by the MCP DevTools Server MCP server (rshade/mcp-devtools-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every MCP DevTools Server tool call.

Start from MCP DevTools Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →