AI agents call list_tools to retrieve information from Mitmproxy without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and returns information about available tools without modifying, executing, or deleting any data. It is a straightforward informational read operation. While the mitmproxy-mcp server context involves traffic inspection and modification capabilities, this specific tool only lists metadata about tools available on the server.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_tools' and description 'List all available tools with their descriptions' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_tools gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Mitmproxy, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_tools:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_tools": {}
}
}list_tools is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List all available tools with their descriptions. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Mitmproxy MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Mitmproxy MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_tools: 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 Mitmproxy. Nothing to install.
list_tools 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_tools 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_tools. 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_tools is provided by the Mitmproxy MCP server (snapspecter/mitmproxy-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 Mitmproxy tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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25 Mitmproxy tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.