Low Risk

detect_changes

detect_changes

How to control detect_changes ↓

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

Low Risk

While the description is empty, the semantic context of 'detect_changes' in a code indexing server strongly implies identifying or querying changes to code (likely from git history), not modifying or executing code. This is consistent with the read-only nature of other analysis tools on the same server.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'detect_changes' combined with sibling tools like 'blame_symbol', 'changes_to', and 'find_pattern' all operating within a code indexing/analysis server (srclight). The context suggests change detection and querying rather than modification.

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

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

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

detect_changes 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 Srclight — 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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Go deeper

What does the detect_changes tool do? +

detect_changes. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Srclight MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on detect_changes? +

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

What risk level is detect_changes? +

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

Can I rate-limit detect_changes? +

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

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

detect_changes is provided by the Srclight MCP server (srclight/srclight). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Srclight tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 42 Srclight tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

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42 Srclight tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

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