Search for text across files in a shelf
AI agents call search_shelf to retrieve information from Shelv MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and searches data within shelves without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a read-only query function with minimal blast radius if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'search_shelf' and description explicitly states 'Search for text across files in a shelf' — a pure query operation with no data modification or execution.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search for text across files in a shelf. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Shelv MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Shelv MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_shelf: 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 Shelv MCP Server. Nothing to install.
search_shelf 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 search_shelf 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 search_shelf. 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.
search_shelf is provided by the Shelv MCP Server MCP server (shelv-dev/shelv-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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