Low Risk

list_repos

List repos in the workspace

How to control list_repos ↓

What list_repos does on Databricks MCP Server

AI agents call list_repos to retrieve information from Databricks MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

Why list_repos needs a policy

This tool performs a read-only retrieval of repositories in a Databricks workspace. It has no side effects, does not execute code, and does not modify, delete, or commit financial operations. The low severity reflects minimal blast radius — an AI agent misuse would only expose metadata about existing repos, not cause operational harm.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'list_repos' and description states 'List repos in the workspace' — a query operation that retrieves information without modifying state.

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

How to control list_repos

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

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_repos": {}
  }
}

list_repos is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register Databricks MCP Server — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Related tools and policies

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Questions about list_repos

What does the list_repos tool do? +

List repos in the workspace. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Databricks MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_repos? +

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

What risk level is list_repos? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_repos? +

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

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

list_repos is provided by the Databricks MCP Server MCP server (markov-kernel/databricks-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Databricks MCP Server tool call.

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

Free to start. No card required.

38 Databricks MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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