List discovered external plugins (VST/AU), optionally filtered by name query. Parameters: - query: Optional case-insensitive search string. - max_results: Maximum number of plugins to display. - refresh_cache: If True, force a rescan instead of using cached results.
AI agents call list_external_plugins to retrieve information from Ableton MCP Extended without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and enumerates available VST/AU plugins without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is a pure data retrieval operation with no side effects or irreversible actions. The refresh_cache option merely controls the data source (cache vs. fresh scan) but does not alter the plugins themselves or trigger execution. Therefore, it clearly falls under the Read category with low severity.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_external_plugins' and description 'List discovered external plugins' indicate a read-only query operation.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_external_plugins gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Ableton MCP Extended, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_external_plugins:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_external_plugins": {}
}
}list_external_plugins is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List discovered external plugins (VST/AU), optionally filtered by name query. Parameters: - query: Optional case-insensitive search string. - max_results: Maximum number of plugins to display. - refresh_cache: If True, force a rescan instead of using cached results. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Ableton MCP Extended MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Ableton MCP Extended MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_external_plugins: 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 Ableton MCP Extended. Nothing to install.
list_external_plugins 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_external_plugins 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_external_plugins. 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_external_plugins is provided by the Ableton MCP Extended MCP server (uisato/ableton-mcp-extended). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 46 Ableton MCP Extended tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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46 Ableton MCP Extended tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.