Retrieve and return a list containing information about tables whose names contain the substring
AI agents call podbc_filter_table_names to retrieve information from Mcp Sqlalchemy without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries database metadata (table names/schemas) and returns results without side effects. It is purely informational retrieval, matching the Read category definition. Severity is low because it only exposes table metadata that an attacker could discover through other database introspection methods, with no capability to modify data, execute queries, or cause harm.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Retrieve and return a list containing information about tables whose names contain the substring' — a read-only query operation that returns metadata about tables. No modification, deletion, or execution of arbitrary code is described.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access podbc_filter_table_names gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Mcp Sqlalchemy, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for podbc_filter_table_names:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"podbc_filter_table_names": {}
}
} podbc_filter_table_names is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Retrieve and return a list containing information about tables whose names contain the substring. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mcp Sqlalchemy MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Mcp Sqlalchemy MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for podbc_filter_table_names: 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 Sqlalchemy. Nothing to install.
podbc_filter_table_names 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 podbc_filter_table_names 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 podbc_filter_table_names. 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.
podbc_filter_table_names is provided by the Mcp Sqlalchemy MCP server (openlinksoftware/mcp-sqlalchemy-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Mcp Sqlalchemy, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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14 Mcp Sqlalchemy tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.