list_branches

List branches in project with search filter

SERVERGitlab Mcp SOURCE@zereight/mcp-gitlab

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-zereight-gitlab-mcp/list-branches.md

WHAT IT DOES

What list_branches does on Gitlab Mcp

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

RISK

Why list_branches is rated Low

This tool retrieves and searches existing branch information without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It has no side effects and poses minimal security risk if misused by an AI agent, as it only exposes already-public repository structure information.

From the tool's definition list_branches: List branches in project with search filter - the verb 'list' and function of searching/retrieving branches without modification indicates a read-only query operation.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs list_branches safely

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

list_branches Allowed

list_branches 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": {
    "list_branches": {}
  }
}

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

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

FAQ

Questions about list_branches

What does the list_branches tool do? +

List branches in project with search filter. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Gitlab Mcp MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_branches? +

Register the Gitlab MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_branches: 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 Gitlab Mcp. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_branches? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_branches? +

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

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

list_branches is provided by the Gitlab MCP server (@zereight/mcp-gitlab). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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