Low Risk

list_canaries

List all CloudWatch Synthetics canaries in the account. Use this tool to discover canaries before analyzing them with analyze_canary_failures(). Returns canary names, status, schedule, runtime version, and last run state. Args: region: AWS region to query (defaults to configured region). ...

Part of the CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

AI agents call list_canaries to retrieve information from CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server 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 list_canaries 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.

cloudwatch-application-signals-mcp-server.yaml
tools:
  list_canaries:
    rules:
      - action: allow

See the full CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server policy for all 22 tools.

Tool Name list_canaries
Category Read
Risk Level Low

View all 22 tools →

Agents calling read-class tools like list_canaries have been implicated in these attack patterns. Read the full case and prevention policy for each:

Browse the full MCP Attack Database →

Other tools in the Read risk category across the catalogue. The same policy patterns (rate-limit, allow) apply to each.

What does the list_canaries tool do? +

List all CloudWatch Synthetics canaries in the account. Use this tool to discover canaries before analyzing them with analyze_canary_failures(). Returns canary names, status, schedule, runtime version, and last run state. Args: region: AWS region to query (defaults to configured region). max_results: Maximum number of canaries to display (default: 20, max: 200). Returns: Formatted list of all canaries with their current status and configuration.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_canaries? +

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for list_canaries. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server MCP server.

What risk level is list_canaries? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_canaries? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_canaries rule in your Intercept 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_canaries completely? +

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for list_canaries. 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_canaries? +

list_canaries is provided by the CloudWatch Application Signals MCP Server MCP server (awslabs.cloudwatch-applicationsignals-mcp-server). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Let agents act without letting them run wild.

Deterministic policy on every MCP tool call. Per-identity grants. Full audit log.

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