canvas_list_files

List files in a course or folder

SERVERCowork Bench SOURCE0717376/cowork_bench

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/cowork-bench/canvas-list-files.md

WHAT IT DOES

What canvas_list_files does on Cowork Bench

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

RISK

Why canvas_list_files is rated Low

This tool performs a query operation to enumerate files within a Canvas course or folder structure. It retrieves information without side effects, aligning with the Read category. The severity is low because listing files poses minimal risk—no data is modified, deleted, or executed, and the blast radius of misuse is limited to potential information disclosure of file names and structures.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'canvas_list_files' and description 'List files in a course or folder' indicate data retrieval with no modification or deletion.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs canvas_list_files safely

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

canvas_list_files Allowed

canvas_list_files 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": {
    "canvas_list_files": {}
  }
}

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

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

FAQ

Questions about canvas_list_files

What does the canvas_list_files tool do? +

List files in a course or folder. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Cowork Bench MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on canvas_list_files? +

Register the Cowork Bench MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for canvas_list_files: 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 Cowork Bench. Nothing to install.

What risk level is canvas_list_files? +

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

Can I rate-limit canvas_list_files? +

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

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

canvas_list_files is provided by the Cowork Bench MCP server (0717376/cowork_bench). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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