# list_tools

List all available security tools, optionally filtered by category. Categories: network, web, password, binary, cloud, osint

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `list_tools`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/list-tools

## Facts

- Tool: `list_tools`
- Server: Pentest Ai (`0xsteph/pentest-ai`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/0xSteph/pentest-ai
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "list_tools",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why list_tools is rated Low

This tool performs information retrieval only. It retrieves metadata about available security tools and their categories. There is no capability to execute tools, modify data, delete resources, or trigger external operations. The read-only nature and minimal blast radius (disclosure of tool names/categories) make this a low-severity Read operation.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name is 'list_tools' and description states 'List all available security tools, optionally filtered by category.' This is a pure query/retrieval operation with no side effects—it only enumerates available tools without executing them, modifying state, or…"

## Use case

AI agents call list_tools to retrieve information from Pentest Ai without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Pentest Ai:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_tools": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Pentest Ai (50)

- `kill_process` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/kill-process.md
- `authenticated_scan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/authenticated-scan.md
- `builtin_scan` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/builtin-scan.md
- `ensure_tools_installed` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/ensure-tools-installed.md
- `http_request` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/http-request.md
- `plan_tools` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/plan-tools.md
- `resume_engagement` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/resume-engagement.md
- `run_probe` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/run-probe.md
- `run_recon` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/run-recon.md
- `run_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/run-tool.md
- `scan_dns_builtin` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/scan-dns-builtin.md
- `scan_ports_builtin` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/scan-ports-builtin.md
- `select_agent` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/select-agent.md
- `start_campaign` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/start-campaign.md
- `start_engagement` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/start-engagement.md
- `test_active_directory` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-active-directory.md
- `test_api_security` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-api-security.md
- `test_cloud` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-cloud.md
- `test_credentials` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-credentials.md
- `test_mobile` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-mobile.md
- `test_privesc` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-privesc.md
- `test_social_engineering` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-social-engineering.md
- `test_vulnerabilities` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-vulnerabilities.md
- `test_web_app` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-web-app.md
- `test_wireless` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/test-wireless.md
- `validate_finding` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/validate-finding.md
- `browser_inspect` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/browser-inspect.md
- `discover_attack_chains` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/discover-attack-chains.md
- `get_attack_chains` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/get-attack-chains.md
- `get_campaign_summary` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai/get-campaign-summary.md
- …and 20 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/0xsteph-pentest-ai.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=0xsteph-pentest-ai · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/0xsteph-pentest-ai