MCP Tool Reference Low Risk

directory_tree

Get a recursive tree view of files and directories

Part of the Filesystem MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem Other

WHEN AI AGENTS USE THIS TOOL

AI agents call directory_tree to perform operations in Filesystem. While the risk category is not fully classified, applying a rate limit gives you visibility into how often the tool is called and prevents unexpected bursts of activity from autonomous agents.

WHY ENFORCE A POLICY ON DIRECTORY_TREE

Applying a policy to directory_tree gives you an audit trail of every call an AI agent makes. Even for low-risk tools, visibility into agent behaviour helps you debug issues, optimise workflows, and maintain compliance with your organisation's security requirements.

RECOMMENDED POLICY

Apply a rate limit to control usage and monitor for unexpected behaviour.

filesystem.yaml 
tools:
  directory_tree:
    rules:
      - action: allow
        rate_limit:
          max: 60
          window: 60

See the full Filesystem policy for all 12 tools.

DETAILS

Tool Name

directory_tree

Category

Other

MCP Server

Filesystem MCP Server

Risk Level

Low

MORE FILESYSTEM TOOLS

get_file_info Read
Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory
list_allowed_directories Read
Returns the list of directories the server can access
list_directory Read
Get a detailed listing of files and directories
read_media_file Read
Read an image or audio file
read_multiple_files Read
Read the contents of multiple files simultaneously
read_text_file Read
Read complete contents of a file as text
search_files Read
Recursively search for files and directories
create_directory Write
Create a new directory or ensure it exists

View all 12 tools →

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monitoring Algolia
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recommend Algolia
Access Algolia recommendation features
abtesting Algolia
Manage A/B tests
collections Algolia
Manage query suggestions collections
usage Algolia
Access Algolia usage data

RELATED READING

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does the directory_tree tool do?

Get a recursive tree view of files and directories. It is categorised as a Other tool in the Filesystem MCP Server, which means it performs auxiliary operations.

How do I enforce a policy on directory_tree?

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for directory_tree. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the Filesystem MCP server.

What risk level is directory_tree?

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

Can I rate-limit directory_tree?

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the directory_tree rule in your Intercept 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 directory_tree completely?

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for directory_tree. 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 directory_tree?

directory_tree is provided by the Filesystem MCP server (modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

ENFORCE POLICIES ON FILESYSTEM

Open source. One binary. Zero dependencies.

VIEW ON GITHUB Full Filesystem policy →