List all available App Store categories with their IDs
AI agents call list_categories to retrieve information from AppRanks 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 static category metadata from the App Store. No data is created, modified, deleted, or executed. It simply enumerates available categories, a read-only lookup operation with minimal risk in any misuse scenario.
From the tool's definition Tool name: 'list_categories' — verb 'list' indicates retrieval. Description: 'List all available App Store categories with their IDs' — pure data enumeration with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all available App Store categories with their IDs. It is categorised as a Read tool in the AppRanks MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the AppRanks MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_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 AppRanks MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_categories 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 list_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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_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.
list_categories is provided by the AppRanks MCP Server MCP server (kanzelsberger/appranks). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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