# list_processes

A read tool on the Desktop Commander MCP Server MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `list_processes`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/list-processes

## Facts

- Tool: `list_processes`
- Server: Desktop Commander MCP Server (`19miha99/system-monitor-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/19miha99/system-monitor-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade D, 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_processes",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why list_processes is rated Low

'list_processes' retrieves system process information without modifying or executing any operations. This is a read operation that queries system state. Severity is medium rather than low because process enumeration can reveal sensitive information about running services and applications, which could enable further targeted attacks, but it has no direct side effects or execution capability.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'list_processes' combined with server description indicating the tool is part of a set that includes monitoring functions like 'get_cpu_per_core', 'get_process_details', 'get_battery_status', and 'get_network_stats'."

## Use case

AI agents call list_processes to retrieve information from Desktop Commander MCP Server 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 Desktop Commander MCP Server:

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

## Other tools on Desktop Commander MCP Server (22)

- `kill_process` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/kill-process.md
- `focus_window` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/focus-window.md
- `launch_application` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/launch-application.md
- `set_window_state` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/set-window-state.md
- `arrange_window` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/arrange-window.md
- `capture_screenshot` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/capture-screenshot.md
- `find_process_by_port` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/find-process-by-port.md
- `get_battery_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-battery-status.md
- `get_cpu_per_core` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-cpu-per-core.md
- `get_display_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-display-info.md
- `get_network_stats` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-network-stats.md
- `get_process_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-process-details.md
- `get_startup_programs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-startup-programs.md
- `get_system_overview` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-system-overview.md
- `get_temperatures` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-temperatures.md
- `get_top_consumers` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/get-top-consumers.md
- `list_windows` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/list-windows.md
- `read_clipboard` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/read-clipboard.md
- `search_installed_apps` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/search-installed-apps.md
- `close_window` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/close-window.md
- `send_notification` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/send-notification.md
- `write_clipboard` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp/write-clipboard.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=19miha99-system-monitor-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/19miha99-system-monitor-mcp