get_transcript_timestamps

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why get_transcript_timestamps needs a policy

This tool queries and retrieves transcript data with temporal metadata. It performs no modifications, deletions, code execution, or financial operations. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could retrieve transcripts from videos it should not access, but this is a data disclosure risk rather than a destructive or execution risk. Classified as Read with low severity.

From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Fetches the transcript with timestamps' — a retrieval operation with no side effects. Confirmed by alias relationship to get_transcript_timed, which is also a fetch operation.

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

POLICY

How to control get_transcript_timestamps

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 get_transcript_timestamps:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "get_transcript_timestamps": {}
  }
}

get_transcript_timestamps is read-only, so it stays allowed — but 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.

CAP THIS TOOL →

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Youtube tools

Execute download_audio Downloads audio from a YouTube video. Returns the file path. Execute download_video Downloads a YouTube video (video+audio) to the local filesystem. 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_video_metadata Fetches video metadata: title, channel, description, publish date, views, duration. (Alias

All 11 Youtube tools →

Read tools on other servers

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about get_transcript_timestamps

What does the get_transcript_timestamps tool do? +

Fetches the transcript with timestamps for each segment. (Alias for get_transcript_timed). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Youtube MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on get_transcript_timestamps? +

Register the Youtube MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_transcript_timestamps: 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 get_transcript_timestamps? +

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

Can I rate-limit get_transcript_timestamps? +

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

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

get_transcript_timestamps 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 →