search_by_name

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_by_name needs a policy

This tool queries a knowledge graph to find symbols matching a name pattern. It performs a read-only search operation without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. The worst-case misuse by an agent would be retrieving information it shouldn't see, but not causing operational harm.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Search for symbols by their name' with 'exact or fuzzy matching'. The verb 'search' and 'for symbols' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects.

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

POLICY

How to control search_by_name

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

policy.json

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

search_by_name 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 GraphHub — 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 GraphHub tools

Destructive forget Delete observations from memory. Can delete by ID, session, project, type, or date. Execute query_graph Run a direct Cypher query against the codebase graph database. Use this to find complex re Write remember_bugfix Record a resolved bug so future agents can reuse the fix pattern. Stores symptom, root cau Write remember_skill_choice Cache which .skill.md / SKILL.md file was used for a task so similar future tasks route to Write remember Save a learning, decision, finding, or other observation to persistent memory. Searchable Write update_observation Update an existing observation Read batch_context Get definition + caller/callee counts for multiple symbols in one call. Replaces N get_con Read changed_symbols List the symbols in files changed by the current branch (or working tree / staged diff). E

All 32 GraphHub tools →

Read tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server get_torrent_detail YouTube MCP Server search_channel Android Forensics ADB MCP Server parse_browser_history 0xarchive web3_challenge

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 search_by_name

What does the search_by_name tool do? +

Search for symbols by their name. Supports exact or fuzzy matching. It is categorised as a Read tool in the GraphHub MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_by_name? +

Register the GraphHub MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_by_name: 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 GraphHub. Nothing to install.

What risk level is search_by_name? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_by_name? +

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

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

search_by_name is provided by the GraphHub MCP server (slnquangtran/graph-hub). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every GraphHub tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →