# list_files

List files in a directory inside the Kali Linux container.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `list_files`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/hannes221-kali-mcp/list-files

## Facts

- Tool: `list_files`
- Server: Kali (`hannes221/kali-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/hannes221-kali-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/Hannes221/kali-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "list_files",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why list_files is rated Low

This tool only retrieves directory contents without side effects. It is a read operation that gathers information about the filesystem state. While the container runs security tools, this specific tool does not execute code or modify data; it merely queries the filesystem. Severity is low because filesystem enumeration has limited blast radius when used in isolation.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name is 'list_files' and description states it 'List files in a directory inside the Kali Linux container' — a pure read operation with no modification, deletion, or execution of code."

## Use case

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

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Kali:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_files": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Kali (6)

- `container_stop` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/hannes221-kali-mcp/container-stop.md
- `container_start` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/hannes221-kali-mcp/container-start.md
- `execute_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/hannes221-kali-mcp/execute-command.md
- `container_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/hannes221-kali-mcp/container-status.md
- `download_file` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/hannes221-kali-mcp/download-file.md
- `upload_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/hannes221-kali-mcp/upload-file.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=hannes221-kali-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/hannes221-kali-mcp