search_by_metadata

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_by_metadata needs a policy

This tool performs a search operation that queries and retrieves information based on metadata criteria. Searches are read-only operations with no side effects on the underlying data. No data is created, modified, deleted, or destroyed. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could retrieve information it shouldn't access, but cannot alter or destroy content.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_by_metadata' and description 'Search for content in Alfresco by metadata fields' indicate a query/retrieval operation with no modification or deletion of data.

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

POLICY

How to control search_by_metadata

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

policy.json

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

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

CAP THIS TOOL →

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Alfresco MCP Server tools

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All 15 Alfresco MCP Server 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_metadata

What does the search_by_metadata tool do? +

Search for content in Alfresco by metadata fields. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Alfresco MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_by_metadata? +

Register the Alfresco MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_by_metadata: 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 Alfresco MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is search_by_metadata? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_by_metadata? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_by_metadata 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_metadata completely? +

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

search_by_metadata is provided by the Alfresco MCP Server MCP server (stevereiner/python-alfresco-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Alfresco MCP Server tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →