List available MCP tools and get detailed help. Use this tool to discover what tools are available and how to use them. Call without parameters to see all tools, or provide a tool name to get detailed help including parameters, examples, and related tools. Args: tool_name: Optional name of a spec...
Part of the Foundation Discovery server.
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AI agents call list_tools to retrieve information from Foundation Discovery without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.
Even though list_tools only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.
Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_tools": {}
}
}See the full Foundation Discovery policy for all 10 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_tools gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other read tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: allow, with a rate cap to control cost.
List available MCP tools and get detailed help. Use this tool to discover what tools are available and how to use them. Call without parameters to see all tools, or provide a tool name to get detailed help including parameters, examples, and related tools. Args: tool_name: Optional name of a specific tool to get detailed help for. Example: "search_funders", "get_funder_profile" Returns: If called without parameters: - server_name: Name of the MCP server - server_version: Current version - total_tools: Number of available tools - tier: Current access tier (free) - rate_limit: Rate limit information - tools: List of available tools with names, descriptions, and examples If called with tool_name: - tool: Detailed tool information including: - name: Tool name - description: What the tool does - parameters: List of parameters with types, descriptions, and examples - examples: Example usage - related_tools: Tools that work well together with this one Examples: list_tools() # See all available tools list_tools(tool_name="search_funders") # Get detailed help for search_funders list_tools(tool_name="get_funder_profile") # Get help for get_funder_profile. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Foundation Discovery MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Foundation Discovery MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_tools: 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 Foundation Discovery. Nothing to install.
list_tools 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 list_tools 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 list_tools. 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.
list_tools is provided by the Foundation Discovery MCP server (https://kindora-mcp.azurewebsites.net/mcp/). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 10 Foundation Discovery tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
4,600+ MCP servers and 31,000+ tools scanned and risk-classified.