read_file

Read source lines from a file by path.

Server Unreal Source tumourlove/deprecated-unreal-source-mcp
Category Read
Risk class Low
Parameters 00 required

What read_file does on Unreal Source

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

Why read_file needs a policy

This tool retrieves and queries Unreal Engine source code files without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any code. It is a standard read operation with no side effects beyond returning file content. The severity is low as misuse would only expose existing source code that is already indexed in the local database.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'read_file' and description 'Read source lines from a file by path' explicitly indicate retrieval of source code content with no modification or execution capability.

Questions about read_file

What does the read_file tool do? +

Read source lines from a file by path. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Unreal Source MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on read_file? +

Register the Unreal Source MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for read_file: 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 Unreal Source. Nothing to install.

What risk level is read_file? +

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

Can I rate-limit read_file? +

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

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

read_file is provided by the Unreal Source MCP server (tumourlove/deprecated-unreal-source-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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