Copy a file to a new location. Fails if destination exists unless overwrite is true. Both paths must be within allowed directories.
AI agents use copy_file to create or update resources in Claude TypeScript MCP Servers — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Claude TypeScript MCP Servers environment.
copy_file creates new files or overwrites existing ones (reversibly), which constitutes a Write operation. It is not Destructive because the operation can be undone by deleting the copied file or restoring from backup. Severity is medium due to potential data modification and accidental overwrite risks, though both paths are constrained to allowed directories which limits blast radius.
From the tool's definition The tool copies files (creating a new file at a destination) and explicitly supports overwriting: 'Fails if destination exists unless overwrite is true'. This creates or modifies data reversibly.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access copy_file gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Claude TypeScript MCP Servers, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for copy_file:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"copy_file": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "copy_file_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}copy_file stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Copy a file to a new location. Fails if destination exists unless overwrite is true. Both paths must be within allowed directories. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Claude TypeScript MCP Servers MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Claude TypeScript MCP Servers MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for copy_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 Claude TypeScript MCP Servers. Nothing to install.
copy_file is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the copy_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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for copy_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.
copy_file is provided by the Claude TypeScript MCP Servers MCP server (ukkz/claude-ts-mcps). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Claude TypeScript MCP Servers, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
84 Claude TypeScript MCP Servers tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.