Get the location where a symbol is defined, using strict TypeScript analysis.
AI agents call get_definition to retrieve information from Headless Codebase Indexer without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This is a read-only operation that provides symbol definition lookup—standard IDE functionality for navigating code. No side effects, no code execution, no data modification. The tool answers 'where is this defined?' and returns location information. Severity is low because misuse would only expose code structure information already present in the codebase.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_definition' and description 'Get the location where a symbol is defined, using strict TypeScript analysis' indicate a query operation that retrieves metadata about code structure without modifying, executing, or deleting anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get the location where a symbol is defined, using strict TypeScript analysis. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Headless Codebase Indexer MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Headless Codebase Indexer MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_definition: 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 Headless Codebase Indexer. Nothing to install.
get_definition 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 get_definition 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 get_definition. 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.
get_definition is provided by the Headless Codebase Indexer MCP server (y1hanh/codebase-indexer-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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