Low Risk

list_relations

Lists relations in the memory graph, optionally filtered by note id.

How to control list_relations ↓

What list_relations does on A-MEM: Agentic Memory System

AI agents call list_relations to retrieve information from A-MEM: Agentic Memory System without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

Why list_relations needs a policy

This tool retrieves and displays existing relations within the memory graph. It performs no data creation, modification, deletion, or external execution. The optional filtering parameter does not change the read-only nature of the operation. Blast radius is minimal as misuse would only expose existing graph metadata without enabling harmful actions.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_relations' and description 'Lists relations in the memory graph, optionally filtered by note id' indicates a query/retrieval operation with no modifications or side effects.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_relations gives an agent:

How to control list_relations

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and A-MEM: Agentic Memory System, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_relations:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_relations": {}
  }
}

list_relations is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register A-MEM: Agentic Memory System — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
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Related tools and policies

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Questions about list_relations

What does the list_relations tool do? +

Lists relations in the memory graph, optionally filtered by note id. It is categorised as a Read tool in the A-MEM: Agentic Memory System MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_relations? +

Register the A-MEM: Agentic Memory System MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_relations: 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 A-MEM: Agentic Memory System. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_relations? +

list_relations is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit list_relations? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_relations 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.

How do I block list_relations completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_relations. 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.

What MCP server provides list_relations? +

list_relations is provided by the A-MEM: Agentic Memory System MCP server (tobs-code/a-mem-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every A-MEM: Agentic Memory System tool call.

Start from A-MEM: Agentic Memory System, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

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15 A-MEM: Agentic Memory System tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.

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