Low Risk

list_documents

List documents in a specific folder

How to control list_documents ↓

What list_documents does on Folder

AI agents call list_documents to retrieve information from Folder without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

Why list_documents needs a policy

This tool retrieves metadata about documents in a folder without altering, executing, or deleting any data. It is a straightforward query/listing operation that has no side effects beyond returning information about existing files.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_documents' and description 'List documents in a specific folder' indicate a retrieval operation with no modification or deletion capability. Server description confirms 'read' and 'list' operations with 'built-in security validation'.

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

How to control list_documents

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

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_documents": {}
  }
}

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

  1. Create a free account and register Folder — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Related tools and policies

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Questions about list_documents

What does the list_documents tool do? +

List documents in a specific folder. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Folder MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_documents? +

Register the Folder MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_documents: 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 Folder. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_documents? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_documents? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_documents 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_documents completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_documents. 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_documents? +

list_documents is provided by the Folder MCP server (okets/folder-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Folder tool call.

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

Free to start. No card required.

9 Folder tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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