Low Risk

list_application_categories

list_application_categories

How to control list_application_categories ↓

What list_application_categories does on Fortimanager

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

Low Risk

Why list_application_categories needs a policy

This tool retrieves or enumerates application categories from FortiManager—a non-destructive query with no side effects. Even if misused by an AI agent, listing categories poses minimal risk as it only exposes information about available application classifications, not sensitive configurations or data modification.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_application_categories' indicates a query/retrieval operation. The 'list_' prefix strongly suggests data enumeration without modification.

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

How to control list_application_categories

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

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_application_categories": {}
  }
}

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

  1. Create a free account and register Fortimanager — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Related tools and policies

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Questions about list_application_categories

What does the list_application_categories tool do? +

list_application_categories. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Fortimanager MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_application_categories? +

Register the Fortimanager MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_application_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 Fortimanager. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_application_categories? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_application_categories? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_application_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_application_categories completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_application_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_application_categories? +

list_application_categories is provided by the Fortimanager MCP server (jmpijll/fortimanager-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Fortimanager tool call.

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

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584 Fortimanager tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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