Low Risk

list_groups

list_groups

How to control list_groups ↓

What list_groups does on Amazon Data Processing MCP Server

AI agents call list_groups to retrieve information from Amazon Data Processing MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

Why list_groups needs a policy

List operations retrieve data without side effects. However, confidence is moderate rather than high due to the missing description—it could theoretically support filters or return sensitive data depending on implementation, but the name alone indicates a read-only operation. Low severity because listing group metadata has minimal blast radius compared to other AWS operations.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_groups' indicates a query/retrieval operation. The empty description prevents full assessment, but the name strongly suggests listing AWS groups without modification.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_groups gives an agent:

How to control list_groups

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Amazon Data Processing MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_groups:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_groups": {}
  }
}

list_groups is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register Amazon Data Processing MCP Server — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

Related tools and policies

Go deeper

Questions about list_groups

What does the list_groups tool do? +

list_groups. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Amazon Data Processing MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_groups? +

Register the Amazon Data Processing MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_groups: 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 Amazon Data Processing MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_groups? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_groups? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_groups 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.

How do I block list_groups completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_groups. 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 list_groups? +

list_groups is provided by the Amazon Data Processing MCP Server MCP server (awslabs.aws-dataprocessing-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Amazon Data Processing MCP Server tool call.

Start from Amazon Data Processing MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

Free to start. No card required.

805 Amazon Data Processing MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

// GET IN TOUCH

Have a question or want to learn more? Send us a message.

Message sent.

We'll get back to you soon.