Low Risk

list_windows

List all open windows with titles and process info.

How to control list_windows ↓

What list_windows does on OODA Computer Control

AI agents call list_windows to retrieve information from OODA Computer Control without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

Why list_windows needs a policy

This tool retrieves system state information (open windows, titles, process identifiers) without modifying, executing operations, or deleting anything. It is purely informational and read-only. While it does expose some system information that could inform reconnaissance, the blast radius is minimal—knowing what windows are open does not directly cause harm.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_windows' and description 'List all open windows with titles and process info' indicate a query/enumeration operation with no side effects.

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

How to control list_windows

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

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

list_windows 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 OODA Computer Control — 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_windows

What does the list_windows tool do? +

List all open windows with titles and process info. It is categorised as a Read tool in the OODA Computer Control MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_windows? +

Register the OODA Computer Control MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_windows: 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 OODA Computer Control. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_windows? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_windows? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_windows 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_windows completely? +

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

list_windows is provided by the OODA Computer Control MCP server (mnehmos/mnehmos.ooda.mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every OODA Computer Control tool call.

Start from OODA Computer Control, 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.

99 OODA Computer Control tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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