AI agents call list_processes to retrieve information from Procmon without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries system state (running processes) but does not modify, execute, or delete anything. However, severity is elevated to 'medium' rather than 'low' because process enumeration combined with the server's access to kernel traces, event logs, and PE analysis could enable reconnaissance for privilege escalation or malware analysis when chained with other tools.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_processes' and description 'List processes with optional name or PID filter' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects. The verb 'list' is quintessentially a read operation.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_processes gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Procmon, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_processes:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_processes": {}
}
}list_processes is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List processes with optional name or PID filter. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Procmon MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Procmon MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_processes: 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 Procmon. Nothing to install.
list_processes 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 list_processes 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 list_processes. 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.
list_processes is provided by the Procmon MCP server (0xhackerfren/procmon-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 18 Procmon tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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18 Procmon tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.