List all configured ServiceNow instances (multi-instance / multi-customer support)
AI agents call list_instances 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 queries and returns a list of existing ServiceNow instances. It is a pure read operation that retrieves configuration information without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any actions. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could only discover which instances are configured, not access their contents or make changes to them.
From the tool's definition 'List all configured ServiceNow instances' - a retrieval operation with no modification of data or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all configured ServiceNow instances (multi-instance / multi-customer support). 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_instances: 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_instances 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_instances 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_instances. 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_instances 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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