Get list of available search categories from SearXNG instance.
AI agents call searxng_get_categories to retrieve information from MCP Developer Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and returns metadata about available search categories from a SearXNG search engine instance. It performs no modifications, deletions, or external operations—it simply retrieves and lists enumerable data. This is a straightforward Read operation with minimal security risk.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'searxng_get_categories' and description 'Get list of available search categories from SearXNG instance' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get list of available search categories from SearXNG instance. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Developer Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the MCP Developer Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for searxng_get_categories: 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 Developer Server. Nothing to install.
searxng_get_categories 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 searxng_get_categories 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 searxng_get_categories. 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.
searxng_get_categories is provided by the MCP Developer Server MCP server (ra86-dev/mcpdev-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 →