Retrieve a list of all category groups with their id, name, type and category list.
AI agents call get-grouped-categories to retrieve information from Actual without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only retrieves and returns existing category group metadata (id, name, type, categories). It performs no write operations, does not execute code or commands, and has no destructive or financial impact. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could only view financial structure metadata, not alter it.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Retrieve a list of all category groups' with no mention of modification, deletion, or side effects. The verb 'Retrieve' and the read-only nature of listing data confirm this is a query operation.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get-grouped-categories gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Actual, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get-grouped-categories:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get-grouped-categories": {}
}
}get-grouped-categories is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Retrieve a list of all category groups with their id, name, type and category list. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Actual MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Actual MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get-grouped-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 Actual. Nothing to install.
get-grouped-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 get-grouped-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 get-grouped-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.
get-grouped-categories is provided by the Actual MCP server (s-stefanov/actual-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 25 Actual tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
25 Actual tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.