Retrieve all available tags for labeling and organizing documents. Returns tag names, colors, and matching rules for automatic assignment.
AI agents call list_tags to retrieve information from Paperless-NGX MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This is a straightforward read-only operation that queries and returns metadata about tags without any destructive, write, execute, or financial implications. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an AI agent could learn about organizational tagging schemes but cannot modify documents, delete tags, or trigger any external actions.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'list_tags' and description states it 'Retrieve[s] all available tags' with 'no side effects'—it only returns tag names, colors, and matching rules without modifying or deleting data.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_tags gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Paperless-NGX MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_tags:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_tags": {}
}
}list_tags is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
Retrieve all available tags for labeling and organizing documents. Returns tag names, colors, and matching rules for automatic assignment. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Paperless-NGX MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Paperless-NGX MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_tags: 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 Paperless-NGX MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_tags 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_tags 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_tags. 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_tags is provided by the Paperless-NGX MCP Server MCP server (nloui/paperless-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 16 Paperless-NGX MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
16 Paperless-NGX MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.