list_strings

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why list_strings needs a policy

This tool performs binary analysis by listing strings—a passive, informational operation with no side effects. It retrieves metadata from an already-analyzed binary and does not create, modify, delete, or execute anything. The blast radius of misuse is negligible since it only exposes information already contained in the binary.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_strings' and description 'List all defined strings in a binary' indicate a read-only operation that retrieves string data from a binary without modifying it.

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

POLICY

How to control list_strings

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Kawaiidra MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_strings:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_strings": {}
  }
}

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

Create a free account and register Kawaiidra MCP — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Kawaiidra MCP tools

Destructive cache_clear Clear cached analysis results. Can clear all cache or filter by binary/project. Destructive clear_comments Clear all comments (EOL, PRE, POST, PLATE) within a function Destructive delete_data_type Delete a user-defined data type from the binary. Destructive delete_function Delete a function by address or name. Removes the function definition but not the underlyi Destructive delete_label Delete a label/symbol at a specific address. Destructive remove_struct_field Remove a field from a structure by index. Execute run_script Execute arbitrary Jython code in the Ghidra scripting environment. Has access to currentPr Execute analyze_binary Import and analyze a binary file with Ghidra. Supports PE, ELF, Mach-O, and raw formats.

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about list_strings

What does the list_strings tool do? +

List all defined strings in a binary. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Kawaiidra MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_strings? +

Register the Kawaiidra MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_strings: 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 Kawaiidra MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_strings? +

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

Can I rate-limit list_strings? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_strings 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_strings completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_strings. 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_strings? +

list_strings is provided by the Kawaiidra MCP server (wagonbomb/kawaiidra-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Kawaiidra MCP tool call.

Start from Kawaiidra MCP, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →