Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory.
AI agents call get_file_info to retrieve information from MCP Filesystem Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only accesses and returns file/directory metadata (size, permissions, timestamps, etc.) with no side effects. It does not create, modify, delete, or execute code. The low severity reflects minimal risk even if invoked inappropriately by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_file_info' and description 'Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory' indicate a query operation that returns information without modifying or executing anything. The verb 'retrieve' is characteristic of Read operations.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_file_info gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and MCP Filesystem Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_file_info:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_file_info": {}
}
}get_file_info is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Filesystem Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the MCP Filesystem Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_file_info: 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 Filesystem Server. Nothing to install.
get_file_info 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_info 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_info. 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_info is provided by the MCP Filesystem Server MCP server (safurrier/mcp-filesystem). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 21 MCP Filesystem Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
21 MCP Filesystem Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.