List all active workspaces.
AI agents call list_workspaces to retrieve information from Persistent Shell MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
The tool retrieves information about existing workspaces without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. While the server overall enables command execution (which could be high-risk), this specific tool only reads workspace state.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_workspaces' and description 'List all active workspaces' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects. This is a query/enumeration function.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all active workspaces. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Persistent Shell MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Persistent Shell MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_workspaces: 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 Persistent Shell MCP. Nothing to install.
list_workspaces 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_workspaces 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_workspaces. 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_workspaces is provided by the Persistent Shell MCP server (tntisdial/persistent-shell-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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