AI agents call list_tabs to retrieve information from Chrome Tools MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
List operations that enumerate resources without triggering side effects or state changes belong to the Read category. The tool retrieves tab information with no capability to modify, delete, or execute actions. Severity is low because listing tabs poses minimal risk—it only exposes metadata about open tabs without network, financial, or destructive implications.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_tabs' indicates a query/retrieval operation for Chrome tab information. No description provided, but the name and context (among tools like capture_screenshot, click_element, execute_script) suggests this tool lists existing tabs without…
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_tabs gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Chrome Tools MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_tabs:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_tabs": {}
}
}list_tabs is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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list_tabs. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Chrome Tools MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Chrome Tools MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_tabs: 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 Chrome Tools MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_tabs 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_tabs 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_tabs. 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_tabs is provided by the Chrome Tools MCP Server MCP server (nicholmikey/chrome-tools-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 7 Chrome Tools MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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7 Chrome Tools MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.