List installed apps on the device
AI agents call adb_list_apps to retrieve information from ADB MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and enumerates installed applications on an Android device. It is purely informational with no side effects—no data is modified, deleted, or executed. The blast radius of misuse is minimal; an attacker could only gain knowledge of what apps are installed, which is low-risk reconnaissance. This clearly falls under the Read category.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'adb_list_apps' and description 'List installed apps on the device' indicate a query operation that retrieves information about installed applications without modifying, executing, or deleting anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List installed apps on the device. It is categorised as a Read tool in the ADB MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the ADB MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for adb_list_apps: 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 ADB MCP Server. Nothing to install.
adb_list_apps 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 adb_list_apps 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 adb_list_apps. 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.
adb_list_apps is provided by the ADB MCP Server MCP server (richard0913/adb-mcp). 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.
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