whatsapp_list_chats

SERVERLocal SOURCElocal-mcp

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 10 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/com-local-mcp-local-mcp/whatsapp-list-chats.md

WHAT IT DOES

What whatsapp_list_chats does on Local

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

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`limit`	integer	—	Max chats to return (default 50)

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

RISK

Why whatsapp_list_chats is rated Low

This tool retrieves and enumerates WhatsApp conversation metadata (chat IDs, contact names, message previews) without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing code. The severity is medium rather than low because: (1) it exposes potentially sensitive personal communication metadata and contact lists, and (2) the description notes it uses an unofficial WhatsApp client (Wacli) that violates ToS and risks account…

From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states it 'Lists WhatsApp conversations' and 'Returns chat IDs, contact names, and recent message snippets' — these are retrieval operations with no modification, deletion, or execution of external commands.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs whatsapp_list_chats safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Local, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For whatsapp_list_chats, this is the rule to start with:

whatsapp_list_chats Allowed

whatsapp_list_chats is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "whatsapp_list_chats": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Local, apply this rule, and every whatsapp_list_chats call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about whatsapp_list_chats

What does the whatsapp_list_chats tool do? +

Lists WhatsApp conversations with last message preview. Returns chat IDs, contact names, and recent message snippets. Some contacts may appear with @lid identifiers (e.g. 123456@lid) instead of phone numbers — this is a WhatsApp privacy feature for certain account types; use the Name field for display and the JID/chat_id for subsequent calls. ⚠️ Uses Wacli (unofficial WhatsApp client). Accounts may be restricted for ToS violations. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Local MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

What parameters does whatsapp_list_chats accept? +

whatsapp_list_chats accepts 1 parameter: limit. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.

How do I enforce a policy on whatsapp_list_chats? +

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

What risk level is whatsapp_list_chats? +

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

Can I rate-limit whatsapp_list_chats? +

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

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

whatsapp_list_chats is provided by the Local MCP server (local-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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