AI agents call list_sources to retrieve information from Fred without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves a list of data sources from the FRED API, consistent with the read-only nature of all sibling tools. No side effects, modifications, deletions, or external operations are indicated. Confidence is 0.85 rather than higher because the tool description is empty, requiring inference from context and naming patterns.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_sources' and server context indicate data retrieval from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED). The sibling tools (get_category, get_release, get_category_series, etc.) are all Read operations that query and retrieve data.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
list_sources. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Fred MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Fred MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_sources: 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 Fred. Nothing to install.
list_sources 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_sources 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_sources. 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_sources is provided by the Fred MCP server (zachspar/fred-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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