Low Risk

list_signatures

List all saved signatures in ~/.pdf-toolkit-files/signatures/. Returns each signature

How to control list_signatures ↓

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

Low Risk

This tool retrieves and enumerates existing signature data from a local directory without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a straightforward information retrieval function with minimal blast radius if misused by an AI agent.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_signatures' and description 'List all saved signatures' indicate a query/retrieval operation with no side effects. The verb 'List' and 'Returns' confirm read-only behavior.

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

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

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

list_signatures 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 PDF Tools — 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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Go deeper

What does the list_signatures tool do? +

List all saved signatures in ~/.pdf-toolkit-files/signatures/. Returns each signature. It is categorised as a Read tool in the PDF Tools MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_signatures? +

Register the PDF Tools MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_signatures: 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 PDF Tools. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_signatures? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_signatures? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_signatures 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_signatures completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_signatures. 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_signatures? +

list_signatures is provided by the PDF Tools MCP server (open-document-alliance/pdf-tools). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every PDF Tools tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 36 PDF Tools tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

Free to start. No card required.

36 PDF Tools tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

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