Low Risk

list_spaces

list_spaces

How to control list_spaces ↓

What list_spaces does on Openstudio

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

Low Risk

Why list_spaces needs a policy

The 'list' verb pattern is strongly associated with read-only operations that enumerate or retrieve data. In the context of an OpenStudio energy modeling server, listing spaces would query existing building model components. No indication of side effects, data modification, code execution, deletion, or financial impact.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_spaces' follows the 'list' verb pattern, indicating data retrieval. The server context confirms it queries OpenStudio models (building energy simulation).

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

How to control list_spaces

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

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

list_spaces 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 Openstudio — 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_spaces

What does the list_spaces tool do? +

list_spaces. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Openstudio MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_spaces? +

Register the Openstudio MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_spaces: 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 Openstudio. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_spaces? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_spaces? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_spaces 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_spaces completely? +

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

list_spaces is provided by the Openstudio MCP server (natlabrockies/openstudio-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Openstudio tool call.

Start from Openstudio, 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.

146 Openstudio tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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