files_watch_once

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why files_watch_once needs a policy

This tool performs a read-only check of file staleness and dispatches a notification. There are no side effects on the file system, no data modification, no code execution, and no data deletion. The 'notification dispatch' is a passive communication action with no destructive consequences. Severity is low because misuse would at worst generate unwanted notifications without affecting system integrity or data.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'files_watch_once' with description 'Single-pass staleness check + notification dispatch' indicates a monitoring/checking operation that retrieves state (staleness status) and sends notifications without modifying, deleting, or executing external…

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

POLICY

How to control files_watch_once

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and M3 Memory, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for files_watch_once:

policy.json

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

files_watch_once 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 M3 Memory — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More M3 Memory tools

Destructive files_corpus_delete Delete a corpus's settings row. Cascade=True also deletes its Destructive files_entity_coalesce_unapply Reverse one coalescence cluster (drop edges, clear flags, strip Destructive retire_focus Clears the current system focus entry. Execute debug_bisect Automated git bisect placeholder. Execute files_extract_pending Drain leaves with extraction_status='pending' through the LLM extractor. Execute grok_ask Queries Grok 3 for real-time info from X and fast reasoning. Execute query_local_model Sends a complex reasoning task to the best available local/network LLM. Write debug_report Generate and persist a structured debugging report.

All 43 M3 Memory tools →

Read tools on other servers

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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 files_watch_once

What does the files_watch_once tool do? +

Single-pass staleness check + notification dispatch. Suitable. It is categorised as a Read tool in the M3 Memory MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on files_watch_once? +

Register the M3 Memory MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for files_watch_once: 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 M3 Memory. Nothing to install.

What risk level is files_watch_once? +

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

Can I rate-limit files_watch_once? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the files_watch_once 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 files_watch_once completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for files_watch_once. 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 files_watch_once? +

files_watch_once is provided by the M3 Memory MCP server (skynetcmd/m3-memory). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every M3 Memory tool call.

Start from M3 Memory, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →