AI agents call github_list_commits to retrieve information from Sage MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and retrieves commit history metadata from a GitHub repository. It has no side effects, does not modify data, execute code, delete anything, or involve financial transactions. It is a straightforward data retrieval operation, making it a Read category risk with low severity due to its passive nature and limited blast radius if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'github_list_commits' and description 'List commits for a repository or branch' indicate a read-only operation that retrieves historical commit data without modifying or executing anything.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access github_list_commits gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Sage MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for github_list_commits:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"github_list_commits": {}
}
}github_list_commits is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List commits for a repository or branch. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Sage MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Sage MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for github_list_commits: 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 Sage MCP. Nothing to install.
github_list_commits 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 github_list_commits 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 github_list_commits. 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.
github_list_commits is provided by the Sage MCP server (sagemcp/sagemcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 359 Sage MCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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359 Sage MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.