AI agents call list_tabs to retrieve information from Mcp Chrome Tabs 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 as it queries and retrieves data about the user's browser tabs without creating, modifying, or deleting anything. Severity is medium because while it's non-destructive, it exposes potentially sensitive information about the user's browsing activity (tabs they have open may contain private information, credentials, or confidential content).
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'list_tabs' and description states 'List all open tabs in the user' - retrieves information about open browser tabs with no modification or side effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_tabs gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Mcp Chrome Tabs, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_tabs:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_tabs": {}
}
}list_tabs is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List all open tabs in the user. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mcp Chrome Tabs MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Mcp Chrome Tabs MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for 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 Mcp Chrome Tabs. Nothing to install.
list_tabs 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_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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for 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.
list_tabs is provided by the Mcp Chrome Tabs MCP server (pokutuna/mcp-chrome-tabs). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 3 Mcp Chrome Tabs tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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3 Mcp Chrome Tabs tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.