Scans the projects directory and lists all projects that have a .claude/ directory. Returns: List of project names with Claude rules configured.
AI agents call rules_list_projects to retrieve information from Claude Rules MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and enumerates metadata about available projects by scanning a directory structure. It performs no modifications, deletions, or external triggers. The information returned (project names with Claude rules) is non-sensitive discovery data typical of development environments. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent cannot harm systems or data by listing projects.
From the tool's definition Tool 'scans the projects directory and lists all projects' and 'returns: List of project names' — this is a retrieval/query operation with no side effects. The verb 'lists' and the passive return of directory contents confirm it is a read-only operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Scans the projects directory and lists all projects that have a .claude/ directory. Returns: List of project names with Claude rules configured. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Claude Rules MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Claude Rules MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for rules_list_projects: 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 Claude Rules MCP Server. Nothing to install.
rules_list_projects 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 rules_list_projects 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 rules_list_projects. 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.
rules_list_projects is provided by the Claude Rules MCP Server MCP server (jeremykenedy/claude-rules-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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