shortest_path

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why shortest_path needs a policy

This tool performs a read-only graph traversal using Dijkstra's algorithm to find the shortest path between two nodes. It retrieves and returns path information without modifying, creating, or deleting any data. Fuzzy matching on node labels is purely a query convenience feature. No side effects are described.

From the tool's definition Find shortest path between two nodes (Dijkstra). Fuzzy matches node labels.

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

POLICY

How to control shortest_path

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

policy.json

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

shortest_path 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 Mcp Graph Engine — 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 →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Mcp Graph Engine tools

Destructive delete_graph Delete a graph session Destructive forget Remove a node and its connected edges Destructive forget_relationship Remove an edge from the graph Destructive transitive_reduction Remove redundant transitive edges (if A->B->C and A->C exist, remove A->C) Execute stop_visualization Stop the visualization server. Execute cypher_query cypher_query Execute visualize_graph Open browser visualization at localhost URL. Updates in real-time. Write add_facts Add facts (relationships) to the graph. Nodes are auto-created if they don

All 24 Mcp Graph Engine 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 shortest_path

What does the shortest_path tool do? +

Find shortest path between two nodes (Dijkstra). Fuzzy matches node labels. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mcp Graph Engine MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on shortest_path? +

Register the Mcp Graph Engine MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for shortest_path: 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 Mcp Graph Engine. Nothing to install.

What risk level is shortest_path? +

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

Can I rate-limit shortest_path? +

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

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

shortest_path is provided by the Mcp Graph Engine MCP server (utilitydelta/mcp-graph-engine). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Mcp Graph Engine tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →