download_video

THE RISK

High Risk

Why download_video needs a policy

This tool fetches external content from YouTube and writes it to the local filesystem. It triggers an external network operation and causes a side effect (file creation on disk). While it is not purely destructive, it executes a download operation with real-world consequences: consuming disk space, bandwidth, and potentially downloading copyrighted material.

From the tool's definition 'Downloads a YouTube video (video+audio) to the local filesystem. Returns the file path.'

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

POLICY

How to control download_video

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

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "download_video": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "download_video_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

download_video stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Youtube — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Youtube tools

Execute download_audio Downloads audio from a YouTube video. Returns the file path. Read download_transcript Downloads the transcript of a YouTube video as a markdown file (.md). Returns the file pat Read download_transcript_timed Downloads the transcript of a YouTube video as a markdown file (.md) with timestamps. Retu Read get_metadata Fetches video metadata: title, channel, description, publish date, views, duration. Read get_transcript Fetches the transcript of a YouTube video given its URL or video ID. Read get_transcript_timed Fetches the transcript with timestamps for each segment. Read get_transcript_timestamps Fetches the transcript with timestamps for each segment. (Alias for get_transcript_timed) Read get_video_metadata Fetches video metadata: title, channel, description, publish date, views, duration. (Alias

All 11 Youtube tools →

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Go deeper

High-risk tools in Youtube → Every high-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All high-risk MCP tools → Every high-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Agent sandbox → Bounding what an agent can execute and where the boundary should sit.
Least privilege for MCP → Granting agents the minimum tool surface the task needs.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about download_video

What does the download_video tool do? +

Downloads a YouTube video (video+audio) to the local filesystem. Returns the file path. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Youtube MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on download_video? +

Register the Youtube MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for download_video: 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 Youtube. Nothing to install.

What risk level is download_video? +

download_video is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit download_video? +

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

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

download_video is provided by the Youtube MCP server (umbertotancorre/youtube-mcp-cli). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Youtube tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →