List all available best practice categories.
AI agents call list_categories to retrieve information from Best Practices MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a simple query/enumeration operation that returns static or semi-static information about category listings. It has no side effects, does not execute code, does not modify data, and poses minimal risk if called by an AI agent. The operation is informational only, making it a classic 'Read' category tool.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_categories' and description 'List all available best practice categories' indicate a read-only operation that retrieves metadata about available categories without modifying any data.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all available best practice categories. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Best Practices MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Best Practices MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for 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 Best Practices MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_categories 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_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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for 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.
list_categories is provided by the Best Practices MCP Server MCP server (n-ochs/best-practice-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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