AI agents call list_files to retrieve information from Overleaf MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This is a read-only operation that retrieves file metadata from a project without side effects. It enables discovery of what files exist but does not execute code, modify content, or delete anything. The blast radius is minimal—an AI agent listing files cannot cause harm beyond potentially revealing project structure.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_files' and description 'List files in an Overleaf project' indicate directory/file enumeration with no modification or execution.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_files gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Overleaf MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_files:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_files": {}
}
}list_files is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List files in an Overleaf project. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Overleaf MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Overleaf MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_files: 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 Overleaf MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_files 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_files 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_files. 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_files is provided by the Overleaf MCP Server MCP server (mjyoo2/overleafmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Overleaf MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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8 Overleaf MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.