List approval requests with optional filters
AI agents call list_approvals to retrieve information from ServiceNow-MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and lists approval request data from ServiceNow. The use of 'list' and 'filters' (parameters for narrowing results) are characteristic of read-only data retrieval. There is no indication of creation, modification, deletion, or execution of actions. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an attacker could view approval requests but cannot alter them or trigger consequential actions.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_approvals' and description 'List approval requests with optional filters' indicate a query/retrieval operation with no modification or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List approval requests with optional filters. It is categorised as a Read tool in the ServiceNow-MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the ServiceNow- MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_approvals: 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 ServiceNow-MCP. Nothing to install.
list_approvals 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_approvals 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_approvals. 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_approvals is provided by the ServiceNow- MCP server (tedorigawa001/servicenow-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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