MCP Tool: Lists subfolders within a given relative path.
AI agents call list_folders to retrieve information from Obsidian MCP Tool Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries directory structure and returns folder information without side effects. It performs a simple enumeration operation that does not alter, create, or destroy any data. The read-only nature and limited blast radius (information disclosure only) justify low severity classification.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'list_folders' and description states it 'Lists subfolders within a given relative path' — a retrieval operation with no modification or deletion of data.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_folders gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Obsidian MCP Tool Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_folders:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_folders": {}
}
}list_folders is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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MCP Tool: Lists subfolders within a given relative path. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Obsidian MCP Tool Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Obsidian MCP Tool Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_folders: 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 Obsidian MCP Tool Server. Nothing to install.
list_folders 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_folders 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_folders. 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_folders is provided by the Obsidian MCP Tool Server MCP server (rwb3n/obsidian-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 18 Obsidian MCP Tool Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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18 Obsidian MCP Tool Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.