AI agents call list_books to retrieve information from Bible without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and presents static reference data about Bible books and their structure. It performs no modifications, deletions, code execution, or financial operations. It is a straightforward informational query with no blast radius for misuse.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_books' and description 'List all books of the Bible with chapter counts' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects. The ability to 'filter by testament' is a read-only query parameter.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all books of the Bible with chapter counts. Can filter by testament. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Bible MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Bible MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_books: 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 Bible. Nothing to install.
list_books 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_books 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_books. 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_books is provided by the Bible MCP server (tuxr/bible-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.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →