List the metadata components and properties of a specified type. Use this command to identify individual components in your manifest file or if you want a high-level view of particular metadata types in your org. For example, you can use this command to return a list of names of all the CustomObj...
AI agents call list_metadata to retrieve information from Salesforce CLI MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This is a Read operation—it queries and lists metadata components in a Salesforce org. However, severity is medium rather than low because: (1) metadata information can reveal sensitive organizational structure, custom objects, and security configurations; (2) requires elevated permissions (Modify All Data or Modify Metadata Through Metadata API Functions); (3) an AI agent with this tool could map the entire org's…
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'List the metadata components and properties' and is used to 'identify individual components' and 'return a list of names'. The action is fundamentally retrieval/querying of metadata information without modification.
Risk signalsBulk/mass operation — affects multiple targets
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List the metadata components and properties of a specified type. Use this command to identify individual components in your manifest file or if you want a high-level view of particular metadata types in your org. For example, you can use this command to return a list of names of all the CustomObject or Layout components in your org, then use this information in a retrieve command that returns a subset of these components. The username that you use to connect to the org must have the Modify All Data or Modify Metadata Through Metadata API Functions permission. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Salesforce CLI MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Salesforce CLI MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_metadata: 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 Salesforce CLI MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_metadata 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 list_metadata 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 list_metadata. 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.
list_metadata is provided by the Salesforce CLI MCP Server MCP server (perrynet/salesforce-cli-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →