AI agents call xcodebuild_show_sdks to retrieve information from Xctools without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a read-only operation—listing available SDKs is a retrieval action with no side effects, data modification, or command execution. The blast radius of misuse is minimal, as displaying SDK information cannot harm systems or data. It aligns with the 'Read' category definition: retrieves or queries data with no side effects (list, get, fetch).
From the tool's definition Tool name 'xcodebuild_show_sdks' and description 'List all available SDKs' indicate a query operation that retrieves and displays information without modifying or executing any code.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all available SDKs. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Xctools MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Xctools MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for xcodebuild_show_sdks: 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 Xctools. Nothing to install.
xcodebuild_show_sdks 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 xcodebuild_show_sdks 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 xcodebuild_show_sdks. 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.
xcodebuild_show_sdks is provided by the Xctools MCP server (nzrsky/xctools-mcp-server). 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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