List all currently open workbooks with their IDs and file paths
AI agents call list_workbooks to retrieve information from Excel MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only retrieves metadata about currently open workbooks. It has no side effects, does not modify data, does not execute code, and does not delete anything. It is purely informational, making it a Read category tool with low severity since disclosure of workbook names and paths presents minimal risk compared to tools that modify or delete data.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_workbooks' and description 'List all currently open workbooks with their IDs and file paths' indicate a query/list operation that retrieves information about open workbooks without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all currently open workbooks with their IDs and file paths. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Excel MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Excel MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_workbooks: 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 Excel MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_workbooks 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_workbooks 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_workbooks. 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_workbooks is provided by the Excel MCP Server MCP server (jauinones/xlsx-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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