List all layers in the document
AI agents call list_layers to retrieve information from Indesign without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves information about layers in an InDesign document without any side effects. It performs a read-only query operation, matching the Read category definition of retrieving or querying data with no side effects. The severity is low because misuse would only expose existing document structure information, not cause data loss or workflow damage.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'list_layers' and description states 'List all layers in the document' — a pure query operation with no modification, creation, or deletion of data.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_layers gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Indesign, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_layers:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_layers": {}
}
}list_layers is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List all layers in the document. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Indesign MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Indesign MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_layers: 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 Indesign. Nothing to install.
list_layers 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_layers 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_layers. 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_layers is provided by the Indesign MCP server (lucdesign/indesign-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Indesign, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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36 Indesign tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.