list_elements

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why list_elements needs a policy

This tool queries and retrieves data (diagram elements) without modifying, executing, deleting, or creating anything. It is purely informational and safe to use.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_elements' and description 'List all elements in the current diagram' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects.

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

POLICY

How to control list_elements

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

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_elements": {}
  }
}

list_elements is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register MCP-BPMN Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More MCP-BPMN Server tools

Destructive bpmn_delete_diagram Delete a saved BPMN diagram file Destructive bpmn_delete_element Delete an element from the process Destructive delete_diagram_file Delete a saved BPMN diagram file Destructive delete_element Delete an element from the current diagram Write new_bpmn Create a new BPMN diagram and set it as current context Write new_from_mermaid Create a new BPMN diagram from Mermaid code and set it as current context Write add_activity Add an activity to the current diagram Write add_event Add an event to the current diagram

All 41 MCP-BPMN Server tools →

Read tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server get_torrent_detail YouTube MCP Server search_channel Android Forensics ADB MCP Server parse_browser_history 0xarchive web3_challenge

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about list_elements

What does the list_elements tool do? +

List all elements in the current diagram. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP-BPMN Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_elements? +

Register the MCP-BPMN Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_elements: 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 MCP-BPMN Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_elements? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_elements? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_elements 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_elements completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_elements. 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_elements? +

list_elements is provided by the MCP-BPMN Server MCP server (oisee/mcp-bpmn). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every MCP-BPMN Server tool call.

Start from MCP-BPMN Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →