zurich_list_categories

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why zurich_list_categories needs a policy

This tool performs a read-only operation that queries and lists available data categories from the Zurich Open Data catalog. It retrieves metadata about organizational groupings without modifying, executing code, deleting, or moving any data. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an AI agent could at worst enumerate categories, which poses no risk to system integrity or data security.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'zurich_list_categories' and description 'Listet alle Datenkategorien (Gruppen) im Katalog auf oder zeigt Details einer Kategorie' (Lists all data categories/groups in the catalog or shows details of a category) indicate retrieval and listing of…

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

POLICY

How to control zurich_list_categories

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

policy.json

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

zurich_list_categories 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 Zurich Open Data 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 →

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Zurich Open Data MCP Server tools

Execute zurich_datastore_sql Führt eine SQL-Abfrage auf dem CKAN DataStore aus. Read get_beschluesse_by_departement get_beschluesse_by_departement Read get_stadtratsbeschluss_detail get_stadtratsbeschluss_detail Read search_stadtratsbeschluesse search_stadtratsbeschluesse Read zurich_air_quality Liefert stündlich aktualisierte Luftqualitätsmessungen aus Zürich. Read zurich_analyze_datasets zurich_analyze_datasets Read zurich_catalog_stats Gibt einen Überblick über den gesamten Open-Data-Katalog der Stadt Zürich. Read zurich_datastore_query Fragt tabellarische Daten direkt aus dem CKAN DataStore ab.

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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 zurich_list_categories

What does the zurich_list_categories tool do? +

Listet alle Datenkategorien (Gruppen) im Katalog auf oder zeigt Details einer Kategorie. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Zurich Open Data MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on zurich_list_categories? +

Register the Zurich Open Data MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for zurich_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 Zurich Open Data MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is zurich_list_categories? +

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

Can I rate-limit zurich_list_categories? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the zurich_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.

How do I block zurich_list_categories completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for zurich_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.

What MCP server provides zurich_list_categories? +

zurich_list_categories is provided by the Zurich Open Data MCP Server MCP server (pypi:zurich-opendata-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Zurich Open Data MCP Server tool call.

Start from Zurich Open Data 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 →