AI agents call list_workspaces to retrieve information from GNOME Desktop MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves information about workspaces (virtual desktops on GNOME) and their properties. It has no side effects—it does not create, modify, delete, or execute operations. It is a read-only query of the desktop environment state. Low severity because the information exposed (workspace metadata) is non-sensitive and discovery-only, with no capability for the agent to cause harm through misuse.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_workspaces' and description 'List all workspaces with their properties' indicate a retrieval operation that queries desktop state without modification.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_workspaces gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and GNOME Desktop MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_workspaces:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_workspaces": {}
}
}list_workspaces is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
List all workspaces with their properties. It is categorised as a Read tool in the GNOME Desktop MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the GNOME Desktop MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_workspaces: 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 GNOME Desktop MCP. Nothing to install.
list_workspaces 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_workspaces 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_workspaces. 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_workspaces is provided by the GNOME Desktop MCP server (sbuysse/gnome-desktop-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from GNOME Desktop MCP, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
30 GNOME Desktop MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.