Low Risk

download_file

Download a specific file or URL. Simpler than clone_website,

How to control download_file ↓

What download_file does on WebClone MCP Server

AI agents call download_file to retrieve information from WebClone MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

Why download_file needs a policy

The tool retrieves/fetches file content without creating, modifying, or deleting data. However, severity is medium rather than low because the server context indicates it can manage authentication sessions and access potentially sensitive content, and a compromised AI agent could download confidential files, credentials, or private data if given malicious URLs or file paths.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'download_file' and description state it 'Download a specific file or URL' with no modification, deletion, or execution capabilities mentioned.

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

How to control download_file

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

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "download_file": {}
  }
}

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

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

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Questions about download_file

What does the download_file tool do? +

Download a specific file or URL. Simpler than clone_website,. It is categorised as a Read tool in the WebClone MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on download_file? +

Register the WebClone MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for download_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 WebClone MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is download_file? +

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

Can I rate-limit download_file? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the download_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.

How do I block download_file completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for download_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.

What MCP server provides download_file? +

download_file is provided by the WebClone MCP Server MCP server (ruslanmv/webclone). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every WebClone MCP Server tool call.

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

Free to start. No card required.

5 WebClone MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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