AI agents call google_ads_list_ad_groups to retrieve information from Google Ads MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
List operations are categorically Read actions—they query and retrieve data without side effects. However, the medium severity reflects that exposed Google Ads account data (ad group structures, targeting, budgets) could enable competitive intelligence, account hijacking insights, or downstream manipulation if combined with write tools on this server (add_keywords, add_extensions, etc.).
From the tool's definition Tool name indicates a list operation ('list_ad_groups'), which is a retrieval action. The server context describes 'performance metrics' and 'analysis' capabilities, suggesting data querying. No keywords like delete, update, execute, or pay appear.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access google_ads_list_ad_groups gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Google Ads MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for google_ads_list_ad_groups:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"google_ads_list_ad_groups": {}
}
}google_ads_list_ad_groups is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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google_ads_list_ad_groups. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Google Ads MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Google Ads MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for google_ads_list_ad_groups: 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 Google Ads MCP Server. Nothing to install.
google_ads_list_ad_groups 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 google_ads_list_ad_groups 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 google_ads_list_ad_groups. 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.
google_ads_list_ad_groups is provided by the Google Ads MCP Server MCP server (johnoconnor0/google-ads-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Google Ads 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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142 Google Ads MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.