AI agents call candidate_list to retrieve information from Ashby MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves candidate information from the Ashby recruiting system. While it is a read-only operation with no side effects, the data involved (candidate profiles in a recruiting context) is sensitive personal/professional information. The medium severity reflects the potential for misuse through bulk export or analysis of confidential recruitment data, even though the operation itself is not destructive.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'candidate_list' and description 'List all candidates with optional pagination' indicate retrieval of candidate data without modification. The verb 'list' and lack of any descriptors like 'create', 'update', 'delete' confirm a read-only operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all candidates with optional pagination. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Ashby MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Ashby MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for candidate_list: 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 Ashby MCP. Nothing to install.
candidate_list 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 candidate_list 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 candidate_list. 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.
candidate_list is provided by the Ashby MCP server (jaketeagle/ashby-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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