This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-dave-london-cargo/pm-ls.md
What pm-ls does on Cargo
AI agents call pm-ls to retrieve information from Cargo without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why pm-ls is rated Low
The 'ls' suffix strongly suggests a list operation, which retrieves package metadata. Even with the truncated description, this is best classified as Read. Confidence is moderate (0.75) due to the incomplete description, but the naming convention makes misclassification as Execute or Write unlikely. Severity is low since read operations on package information have minimal blast radius.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'pm-ls' and context indicates 'Runs' a package manager list command. The description is incomplete ('Runs' with no object), but 'ls' commands are read-only operations that list/query package information without side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs pm-ls safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Cargo, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For pm-ls, this is the rule to start with:
pm-ls is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Cargo, apply this rule, and every pm-ls call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about pm-ls
Runs. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Cargo MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Cargo MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for pm-ls: 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 Cargo. Nothing to install.
pm-ls is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the pm-ls 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for pm-ls. 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.
pm-ls is provided by the Cargo MCP server (Dave-London/Pare). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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