// SCAN REPORT

Mcp Zotero

46 tools. 17 can modify or destroy data without limits.

5 destructive tools with no built-in limits. Policy required.

Last updated: 29 Jun 2026

17 can modify or destroy data

29 read-only

46 tools total

Community server · catalogue entry verified 29/06/2026

How to control Mcp Zotero ↓

TOOL MAP

What Mcp Zotero exposes to your agents

Read (29) Write / Execute (12) Destructive / Financial (5)

Running more than one server? Check your whole stack →

MOST DANGEROUS TOOLS

Critical Risk

The most dangerous Mcp Zotero tools

Destructive · High delete_collection This tool permanently removes a collection from the Zotero library. Destructive · High delete_item The delete_item tool irreversibly removes items from a user's Zotero library. Destructive · High delete_saved_search The tool permanently removes saved searches, which cannot be automatically recovered. Destructive · Medium delete_tags This tool irreversibly removes tags from a Zotero library.

17 of Mcp Zotero's 46 tools can modify, destroy, or commit something on every call — and an agent calls them with no built-in limits.

POLICY

How to control Mcp Zotero

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Mcp Zotero, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. These are the rules we recommend:

Deny destructive operations

{
  "delete_collection": {
    "deny_if": [
      {
        "conditions": [],
        "on_deny": "Blocked by default. Requires approval."
      }
    ]
  }
}

Destructive tools should never be available to autonomous agents without human approval.

Rate limit write operations

{
  "add_item": {
    "limits": [
      {
        "counter": "add_item_per_hour",
        "window": "hour",
        "max": 30,
        "scope": "grant"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Prevents bulk unintended modifications from agents caught in loops.

Cap read operations

{
  "collection_items": {
    "limits": [
      {
        "counter": "collection_items_per_minute",
        "window": "minute",
        "max": 60,
        "scope": "grant"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Controls API costs and prevents retry loops from exhausting upstream rate limits.

Create a free account and register Mcp Zotero — nothing to install.
Add these rules — paste them, or build them visually. Tune the limits to your setup.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

ENFORCE POLICY ON MCP ZOTERO →

Instant setup, no code required.

FULL CATALOGUE

All 46 Mcp Zotero tools

DESTRUCTIVE 5 tools

Destructive delete_collection Delete a collection. Destructive delete_item Delete an item. Destructive delete_saved_search Delete saved searches by key. Destructive delete_tags Delete tags. Destructive remove_from_index Remove items from the semantic search index.

EXECUTE 2 tools

Execute index_items Index specific Zotero items by their keys. Execute index_library Build or update the semantic search index from Zotero library or collection.

WRITE 10 tools

Write add_item Add an item to Zotero. Optionally attach files (best-effort). Write add_item_to_collection Add an item to a collection. Write attach_file Attach a local file to an existing item (best-effort). Write attach_linked_file Attach a linked (non-uploaded) local file to an existing item. Write create_collections Create collections. Write create_saved_search Create a saved search. Write download_attachments Download all file attachments for an item to a local directory. Write remove_item_from_collection Remove an item from a collection. Write update_collection Update a collection's name or parent. Write update_item Modify fields on an existing item.

READ 29 tools

Read collection_items Retrieve items in a collection. Read collection_items_top Retrieve top-level items in a collection. Read collection_tags Retrieve tags for a collection. Read creator_fields Retrieve creator fields. Read deleted_items Retrieve deleted items (requires since). Read find_similar_chunks Find passages similar to a given chunk across indexed documents. Read get_chunk_context Get expanded context around a search result chunk. Read get_collection Retrieve a collection. Read get_item Retrieve a single item and (optionally) its children. Read health_check Validate configuration without making API calls. Read index_status Get statistics about the semantic search index. Read item_attachment_link_modes Retrieve attachment link mode types. Read item_creator_types Retrieve creator types for an item type. Read item_fields Retrieve item fields. Read item_tags Retrieve tags for a specific item. Read item_type_fields Retrieve fields for an item type. Read item_types Retrieve item types. Read list_collections Retrieve collections. Read list_collections_sub Retrieve subcollections for a collection. Read list_collections_top Retrieve top-level collections. Read list_groups Retrieve user groups. Read list_indexed_items List all items that have been indexed for semantic search. Read list_searches Retrieve saved searches. Read ping Basic liveness check. Read search_items Search items by free-text query. Read semantic_search Search for passages by meaning using semantic similarity. Read top_items Retrieve top-level items. Read trash_items Retrieve items in the trash.

EXPLORE

Related servers

Other MCP servers with similar tools — same risk classification, starter policies for each.

FAQ

Questions about Mcp Zotero

Can an AI agent delete data through the Mcp Zotero MCP server? +

Yes. The Mcp Zotero server exposes 5 destructive tools including delete_collection, delete_item, delete_saved_search. These permanently remove resources with no undo. PolicyLayer blocks destructive tools by default so they never reach the upstream server.

How do I prevent bulk modifications through Mcp Zotero? +

The Mcp Zotero server has 10 write tools including add_item, add_item_to_collection, attach_file. Set a rate limit in your policy -- for example, 10 calls per hour prevents an agent from making more than 10 modifications per hour. PolicyLayer enforces this at the gateway, before calls reach Mcp Zotero.

How many tools does the Mcp Zotero MCP server expose? +

46 tools across 4 categories: Destructive, Execute, Read, Write. 29 are read-only. 17 can modify, create, or delete data.

How do I enforce a policy on Mcp Zotero? +

Register the Mcp Zotero MCP server in PolicyLayer, apply the suggested rules above (adjust the limits to your use case), and point your AI client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL instead of the server directly. Your agents keep the same tools; PolicyLayer evaluates every call against policy before it executes. Nothing to install, live in minutes.

Enforce policy on every Mcp Zotero tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 46 Mcp Zotero tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

ENFORCE POLICY ON MCP ZOTERO →

Instant setup, no code required.

46 Mcp Zotero tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.