messagesList

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why messagesList needs a policy

This tool performs a query operation to retrieve and display messages. It has no side effects, does not execute commands, does not modify or delete data, and does not involve financial transactions. The 'list' operation is a standard read-only information retrieval function.

From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Lists messages from the archive or live Telegram API' — a retrieval operation with no modification or deletion of data.

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

POLICY

How to control messagesList

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

policy.json

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

messagesList 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 Telegram 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.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Telegram MCP Server tools

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All 38 Telegram MCP Server tools →

Read tools on other servers

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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 messagesList

What does the messagesList tool do? +

Lists messages from the archive or live Telegram API. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Telegram MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on messagesList? +

Register the Telegram MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for messagesList: 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 Telegram MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is messagesList? +

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

Can I rate-limit messagesList? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the messagesList 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 messagesList completely? +

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

messagesList is provided by the Telegram MCP Server MCP server (kfastov/tgcli). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Telegram MCP Server tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →