Search the service catalog for items matching a keyword
AI agents call search_catalog 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 performs a search operation that retrieves catalog items based on keyword matching. It is purely informational—it queries and returns data without side effects, modifications, or irreversible actions. The keyword-based search against a service catalog is a standard read-only retrieval pattern.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_catalog' and description 'Search the service catalog for items matching a keyword' indicate a query operation that retrieves information without modifying or executing external actions.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search the service catalog for items matching a keyword. 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 search_catalog: 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.
search_catalog 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 search_catalog 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 search_catalog. 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.
search_catalog 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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