List AWS EC2 instance families with counts (e.g., General purpose: 200, Compute optimized: 150).
AI agents call list_aws_instance_families to retrieve information from Cloud Cost MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and displays pricing/product information from AWS (instance families and their counts). It has no side effects, does not execute operations, create resources, modify data, delete anything, or commit financial transactions. It is a simple read operation for reference data used in cost comparison.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'List[s] AWS EC2 instance families with counts' — a purely informational retrieval of instance type data with no modification or execution capability.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List AWS EC2 instance families with counts (e.g., General purpose: 200, Compute optimized: 150). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Cloud Cost MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Cloud Cost MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_aws_instance_families: 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 Cloud Cost MCP. Nothing to install.
list_aws_instance_families 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_aws_instance_families 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_aws_instance_families. 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_aws_instance_families is provided by the Cloud Cost MCP server (jasonwilbur/cloud-cost-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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