AI agents call search to retrieve information from Context without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves or queries saved context data with no side effects, mutations, or external operations. It falls squarely into the Read category. The low severity reflects that searching existing context cannot cause harm beyond potential information disclosure, which is mitigated by the context already being stored persistently within the user's own system.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'search' and description states 'Search across all saved context' with three modes. Search operations are read-only queries that retrieve information without modifying or executing anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search across all saved context. Three modes:\n. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Context MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Context MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search: 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 Context. Nothing to install.
search is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search 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 search. 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.
search is provided by the Context MCP server (vibhasdutta/context-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
search is one line of Context's registry record.
The record carries the whole server: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, every tool classified, recommended policy — re-checked continuously.
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