List catalogs in Unity Catalog
AI agents call list_catalogs to retrieve information from Databricks MCP 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 a list of existing catalogs without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is a straightforward read operation with minimal security risk. The blast radius of misuse is limited to potential information disclosure about available catalogs, which is low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_catalogs' and description 'List catalogs in Unity Catalog' indicate a retrieval operation with no modification, deletion, or code execution.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List catalogs in Unity Catalog. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Databricks MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Databricks MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_catalogs: 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 Databricks MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_catalogs 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_catalogs 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_catalogs. 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_catalogs is provided by the Databricks MCP Server MCP server (robkisk/databricks-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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