pm-ls

Runs

SERVERDocker SOURCE@paretools/docker

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/io-github-dave-london-docker/pm-ls.md

WHAT IT DOES

What pm-ls does on Docker

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

RISK

Why pm-ls is rated Low

Based on the naming convention 'pm-ls' (likely 'package manager list'), this appears to be a read-only tool for listing packages or inventory. The incomplete description prevents higher confidence, but the pattern of sibling tools and the '-ls' suffix strongly suggest a query/list operation with no side effects, typical of package manager inspection commands.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'pm-ls' suggests a package manager list command, consistent with the sibling tool 'ansible-inventory' which performs read-only queries. The description 'Runs' is incomplete and uninformative, reducing confidence.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs pm-ls safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Docker, 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 Allowed

pm-ls 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": {
    "pm-ls": {}
  }
}

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

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

FAQ

Questions about pm-ls

What does the pm-ls tool do? +

Runs. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Docker MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on pm-ls? +

Register the Docker 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 Docker. Nothing to install.

What risk level is pm-ls? +

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

Can I rate-limit pm-ls? +

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.

How do I block pm-ls completely? +

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.

What MCP server provides pm-ls? +

pm-ls is provided by the Docker MCP server (@paretools/docker). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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