get-task-lists

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why get-task-lists needs a policy

This tool retrieves and queries existing task list metadata without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It has no side effects and poses minimal risk if invoked by an AI agent, as it only exposes read-only access to task list organization structures.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'get-task-lists' and description stating 'Get all Microsoft Todo task lists' explicitly indicates data retrieval with no modification. The description specifies it 'Shows list names, IDs' — purely informational actions.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get-task-lists gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control get-task-lists

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Microsoft Todo MCP Service, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get-task-lists:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "get-task-lists": {}
  }
}

get-task-lists 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 Microsoft Todo MCP Service — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Microsoft Todo MCP Service tools

Destructive delete-checklist-item Delete a checklist item (subtask) from a task. This removes just the specific subtask, not Destructive delete-task Delete a task from a Microsoft Todo list. This will remove the task and all its checklist Destructive delete-task-list Delete a task list (top-level container) from Microsoft Todo. This will remove the list an Write create-checklist-item Create a new checklist item (subtask) for a task. Checklist items help break down a task i Write create-task Create a new task in a specific Microsoft Todo list. A task is the main todo item that can Write create-task-list Create a new task list (top-level container) in Microsoft Todo to help organize your tasks Write update-checklist-item Update an existing checklist item (subtask). Allows changing the text content or completio Write update-task Update an existing task in Microsoft Todo. Allows changing any properties of the task incl

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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 get-task-lists

What does the get-task-lists tool do? +

Get all Microsoft Todo task lists (the top-level containers that organize your tasks). Shows list names, IDs, and indicates default or shared lists. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Microsoft Todo MCP Service MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on get-task-lists? +

Register the Microsoft Todo MCP Service MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get-task-lists: 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 Microsoft Todo MCP Service. Nothing to install.

What risk level is get-task-lists? +

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

Can I rate-limit get-task-lists? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the get-task-lists 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 get-task-lists completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for get-task-lists. 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 get-task-lists? +

get-task-lists is provided by the Microsoft Todo MCP Service MCP server (jhirono/todomcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Microsoft Todo MCP Service tool call.

Start from Microsoft Todo MCP Service, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →