Low Risk

vscode_get_element_siblings

Get sibling elements at the same level as the target element. Useful for understanding list items, tabs, or other repeated elements.

How to control vscode_get_element_siblings ↓

What vscode_get_element_siblings does on VSCode Automation MCP

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

Low Risk

Why vscode_get_element_siblings needs a policy

This is a passive inspection tool that reads DOM state to support UI navigation and understanding. It has no side effects, cannot modify VSCode state, trigger commands, or delete data. While it runs within a controlled VSCode instance, its sole function is to return structural information about the UI.

From the tool's definition The tool 'vscode_get_element_siblings' retrieves sibling elements at the same level as a target element—a query operation that inspects DOM structure without modifying, deleting, or executing anything.

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

How to control vscode_get_element_siblings

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

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

vscode_get_element_siblings 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 VSCode Automation MCP — 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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Related tools and policies

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Questions about vscode_get_element_siblings

What does the vscode_get_element_siblings tool do? +

Get sibling elements at the same level as the target element. Useful for understanding list items, tabs, or other repeated elements. It is categorised as a Read tool in the VSCode Automation MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on vscode_get_element_siblings? +

Register the VSCode Automation MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for vscode_get_element_siblings: 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 VSCode Automation MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is vscode_get_element_siblings? +

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

Can I rate-limit vscode_get_element_siblings? +

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

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

vscode_get_element_siblings is provided by the VSCode Automation MCP server (sukarth/vscode-automation-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every VSCode Automation MCP tool call.

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

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61 VSCode Automation MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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