AI agents call show_tables to retrieve information from Snowflake MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
show_tables lists tables in a schema—a read-only metadata retrieval operation with no data modification or code execution. The Snowflake MCP server is explicitly described as providing 'read-only access', and the tool name indicates simple schema discovery without side effects. Severity is low because table discovery is non-sensitive metadata typically available to all authenticated users.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'show_tables' and server description states 'read-only access to Snowflake data warehouses, enabling AI assistants to explore schemas'.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access show_tables gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Snowflake MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for show_tables:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"show_tables": {}
}
}show_tables is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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show_tables. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Snowflake MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Snowflake MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for show_tables: 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 Snowflake MCP Server. Nothing to install.
show_tables 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 show_tables 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 show_tables. 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.
show_tables is provided by the Snowflake MCP Server MCP server (ncejda-g2/snowflake_mcp_server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Snowflake 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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7 Snowflake MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.