Low Risk

list_documents

list_documents

How to control list_documents ↓

AI agents call list_documents to retrieve information from Forgetful without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

The 'list_' prefix is a standard convention for read-only enumeration operations. Despite the empty description, the naming pattern combined with the server's stated purpose (retrieval of persistent knowledge) and the presence of separate destructive tools (delete_*) on the same server confirms this performs data retrieval with no side effects.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_documents' indicates a retrieval operation with no modification capability. The server description emphasizes 'storage and retrieval' and 'semantic search', positioning this tool as a query/listing function.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_documents gives an agent:

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Forgetful, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_documents:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_documents": {}
  }
}

list_documents is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register Forgetful — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Go deeper

What does the list_documents tool do? +

list_documents. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Forgetful MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_documents? +

Register the Forgetful MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_documents: 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 Forgetful. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_documents? +

list_documents is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit list_documents? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_documents 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.

How do I block list_documents completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_documents. 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.

What MCP server provides list_documents? +

list_documents is provided by the Forgetful MCP server (scottrbk/forgetful). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Forgetful tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 59 Forgetful tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

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59 Forgetful tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

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