browser_list_tabs

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why browser_list_tabs needs a policy

This tool queries and returns information about open browser tabs without modifying state, executing commands, or affecting system resources. It is a simple enumeration operation that falls squarely into the Read category. Severity is low because listing tabs poses minimal risk — it only exposes metadata about which pages are loaded, without accessing sensitive data or triggering actions.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'List all available browser tabs' — a retrieval operation with no modification, deletion, or execution of code. The verb 'list' is a passive read operation.

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

POLICY

How to control browser_list_tabs

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

policy.json

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

browser_list_tabs 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 Browser Connect — 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 Browser Connect tools

Execute browser_launch Launch a new browser instance with debugging enabled Execute performance_profile Advanced performance profiling with bottleneck detection and recommendations Execute debug_localhost Launch browser with a localhost URL and automatically connect for debugging Execute backend_debugger_attach Attach to a Node.js process debugger for breakpoint debugging Execute browser_connect Connect to a specific browser tab for debugging Read network_performance Get network performance statistics for a connected browser tab Read backend_logs_stream Stream and search logs from backend applications (files, processes, Docker containers) Read console_advanced_search Advanced console search with pattern matching, correlation, and statistics

All 16 Browser Connect 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 browser_list_tabs

What does the browser_list_tabs tool do? +

List all available browser tabs that can be connected to. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Browser Connect MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on browser_list_tabs? +

Register the Browser Connect MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for browser_list_tabs: 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 Browser Connect. Nothing to install.

What risk level is browser_list_tabs? +

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

Can I rate-limit browser_list_tabs? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the browser_list_tabs 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 browser_list_tabs completely? +

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

browser_list_tabs is provided by the Browser Connect MCP server (perception30/browser-connect-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Browser Connect tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →