get_category_tools

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why get_category_tools needs a policy

This tool retrieves and lists tools within a category without modifying, creating, deleting, or executing any operations. It is purely informational and has no blast radius for misuse by an AI agent beyond potentially exposing available tools.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_category_tools' and description 'Return all tools available in a specific category' indicate a query/retrieval operation with no side effects.

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

POLICY

How to control get_category_tools

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

policy.json

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

get_category_tools 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 KiCAD-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

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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 get_category_tools

What does the get_category_tools tool do? +

Return all tools available in a specific category. Use list_tool_categories first to find valid category names. It is categorised as a Read tool in the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on get_category_tools? +

Register the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_category_tools: 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 KiCAD-MCP-Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is get_category_tools? +

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

Can I rate-limit get_category_tools? +

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

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

get_category_tools is provided by the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server (mixelpixx/kicad-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every KiCAD-MCP-Server tool call.

Start from KiCAD-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 →