Get detailed status information for multiple specified paths.
AI agents call stat_items to retrieve information from Filesystem without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The stat_items tool queries and returns status information (permissions, size, timestamps, etc.) about filesystem items. This is a read-only operation with no side effects, and falls squarely into the Read category. The presence of destructive tools like delete_items and write tools like replace_content on the same server does not change this tool's classification.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'stat_items' and description 'Get detailed status information for multiple specified paths' indicates retrieval of file/directory metadata without modification or deletion.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access stat_items gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Filesystem, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for stat_items:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"stat_items": {}
}
}stat_items is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get detailed status information for multiple specified paths. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Filesystem MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Filesystem MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for stat_items: 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 Filesystem. Nothing to install.
stat_items is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the stat_items 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for stat_items. 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.
stat_items is provided by the Filesystem MCP server (sylphxai/filesystem-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Filesystem, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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13 Filesystem tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.