MCP Tool Reference Low Risk

list_objects

List Snowflake objects such as databases, schemas, tables

Part of the Snowflake MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

snowflake-labs-mcp Read

WHEN AI AGENTS USE THIS TOOL

AI agents call list_objects to retrieve information from Snowflake without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions — but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.

WHY ENFORCE A POLICY ON LIST_OBJECTS

Even though list_objects only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.

RECOMMENDED POLICY

Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.

snowflake.yaml 
tools:
  list_objects:
    rules:
      - action: allow

See the full Snowflake policy for all 10 tools.

DETAILS

Tool Name

list_objects

Category

Read

MCP Server

Snowflake MCP Server

Risk Level

Low

MORE SNOWFLAKE TOOLS

describe_object Read
Describe the structure of a Snowflake object
list_semantic_views Read
List and query Snowflake Semantic Views
query_cortex_search Read
Query a Cortex Search Service for semantic search
query_cortex_analyst Read
Query Cortex Analyst for natural language to SQL conversion
query_cortex_agent Read
Query a Cortex Agent Service for agentic orchestration
create_object Write
Create a new Snowflake object
create_or_alter_object Write
Create or alter a Snowflake object
drop_object Destructive
Drop a Snowflake object

View all 10 tools →

SIMILAR READ TOOLS ON OTHER SERVERS

list_bases Airtable
List all accessible Airtable bases
list_tables Airtable
List all tables in a base
list_records Airtable
Retrieve records from a table
get_record Airtable
Get a single record by its ID
search_records Airtable
Find records matching criteria
search Amplitude
Search for charts, dashboards, notebooks, experiments, events, properties, cohorts

RELATED READING

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does the list_objects tool do?

List Snowflake objects such as databases, schemas, tables. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Snowflake MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_objects?

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for list_objects. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the Snowflake MCP server.

What risk level is list_objects?

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

Can I rate-limit list_objects?

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_objects rule in your Intercept 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_objects completely?

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for list_objects. 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_objects?

list_objects is provided by the Snowflake MCP server (snowflake-labs-mcp). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

ENFORCE POLICIES ON SNOWFLAKE

Open source. One binary. Zero dependencies.

VIEW ON GITHUB Full Snowflake policy →