Low Risk

get_providers

Get all providers for a category with pricing, issues, benchmarks, plus the project profile and past decisions. Returns everything needed to pick the best provider.

Risk signalsBulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets

Part of the StackSherpa server.

get_providers is read-only, but an agent in a loop can still rack up calls and cost. PolicyLayer caps every call before it runs. Live in minutes.

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AI agents call get_providers to retrieve information from StackSherpa without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.

Even though get_providers only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.

Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.

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

See the full StackSherpa policy for all 3 tools.

Get this rule live on your own StackSherpa server in minutes. PolicyLayer enforces it on every call, before it runs.

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These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_providers gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:

Browse the full MCP Attack Database →

Every attack above starts with a tool call. PolicyLayer checks each one against your policy first, so get_providers only ever does what you allow.

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Other read tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: allow, with a rate cap to control cost.

What does the get_providers tool do? +

Get all providers for a category with pricing, issues, benchmarks, plus the project profile and past decisions. Returns everything needed to pick the best provider.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the StackSherpa MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on get_providers? +

Register the StackSherpa MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_providers: 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 StackSherpa. Nothing to install.

What risk level is get_providers? +

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

Can I rate-limit get_providers? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the get_providers 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 get_providers completely? +

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

get_providers is provided by the StackSherpa MCP server (astein91/stacksherpa-remote). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every StackSherpa tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 3 StackSherpa tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

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4,600+ MCP servers and 31,000+ tools scanned and risk-classified.

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