list_prompt_categories

ServerSmart Prompts MCP Server
CategoryRead

WHAT IT DOES

What list_prompt_categories does on Smart Prompts MCP Server

AI agents call list_prompt_categories to retrieve information from Smart Prompts MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why list_prompt_categories needs a policy

This tool queries and returns metadata about available prompt categories without performing any side effects, modifications, or external operations. It is a straightforward read operation that retrieves enumerated data from the system.

From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states 'List all available prompt categories' and 'explore the library structure' with no mention of creating, modifying, or deleting data. The action is purely informational retrieval.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_prompt_categories gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control list_prompt_categories

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Smart Prompts MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_prompt_categories:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_prompt_categories": {}
  }
}

list_prompt_categories is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Smart Prompts MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about list_prompt_categories

What does the list_prompt_categories tool do? +

📋 Overview: List all available prompt categories with prompt counts. Use this to explore the library structure and see what categories exist before searching or creating prompts. Great for discovering new areas. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Smart Prompts MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_prompt_categories? +

Register the Smart Prompts MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_prompt_categories: 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 Smart Prompts MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_prompt_categories? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_prompt_categories? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_prompt_categories 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_prompt_categories completely? +

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

list_prompt_categories is provided by the Smart Prompts MCP Server MCP server (jezweb/smart-prompts-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Smart Prompts MCP Server tool call.

Start from Smart Prompts MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

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12 Smart Prompts MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.