Get controls for a specific baseline (low, moderate, high)
AI agents call get_baseline_controls to retrieve information from NIST MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves NIST baseline control information based on a classification level parameter. It performs a straightforward query of existing security control frameworks without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. The operation is informational and poses minimal risk if invoked by an AI agent, as it only returns reference data about security controls that should be implemented.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_baseline_controls' and description 'Get controls for a specific baseline (low, moderate, high)' indicate retrieval of control baseline data.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_baseline_controls gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and NIST MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_baseline_controls:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_baseline_controls": {}
}
}get_baseline_controls is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get controls for a specific baseline (low, moderate, high). It is categorised as a Read tool in the NIST MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the NIST MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_baseline_controls: 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 NIST MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_baseline_controls 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 get_baseline_controls 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 get_baseline_controls. 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.
get_baseline_controls is provided by the NIST MCP Server MCP server (tnicholson/nist-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from NIST MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
44 NIST MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.