List service catalog categories from the sc_category table. Filter by parent
AI agents call list_catalog_categories to retrieve information from Now Sdk Ext without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a simple data retrieval operation against the sc_category table with optional filtering by parent. It does not create, modify, delete, or execute any code. The blast radius is minimal—worst case, an agent retrieves unwanted category metadata, which poses no security or operational risk.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_catalog_categories' and description 'List service catalog categories from the sc_category table' clearly indicates a read-only query operation that retrieves data with no modification or side effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_catalog_categories gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Now Sdk Ext, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_catalog_categories:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_catalog_categories": {}
}
}list_catalog_categories is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List service catalog categories from the sc_category table. Filter by parent. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Now Sdk Ext MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Now Sdk Ext MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_catalog_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 Now Sdk Ext. Nothing to install.
list_catalog_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 list_catalog_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 list_catalog_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.
list_catalog_categories is provided by the Now Sdk Ext MCP server (sonisoft-cnanda/now-sdk-ext-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Now Sdk Ext, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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86 Now Sdk Ext tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.