search_content

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_content needs a policy

This tool retrieves and queries data from the Alfresco content management system without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing operations. Even though it uses AFTS (Alfresco Full Text Search), it remains a read-only search interface. The low severity reflects minimal risk if misused by an AI agent—worst case would be information disclosure of existing content already in the system.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_content' and description 'Search for content in Alfresco using AFTS query language' indicate a query/search operation with no side effects. The verb 'search' is explicitly a Read operation per the classification rules.

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

POLICY

How to control search_content

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_content:

policy.json

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

search_content 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 →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Alfresco MCP Server tools

Destructive cancel_checkout Cancel checkout of a document, discarding any working copy. Destructive delete_node Delete a document or folder from Alfresco. Execute cmis_search Search using CMIS SQL syntax. Default query searches for PDF documents. Write checkin_document Check in a document after editing using Alfresco REST API. Write checkout_document Check out a document for editing using Alfresco REST API. Write create_folder Create a new folder in Alfresco. Write update_node_properties Update metadata and properties of a document or folder. Write upload_document Upload a document to Alfresco.

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_content

What does the search_content tool do? +

Search for content in Alfresco using AFTS query language. 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_content? +

Register the Alfresco MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_content: 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_content? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_content? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_content 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_content completely? +

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

search_content 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 →