search_papers
Search for papers on arXiv with advanced filtering and query optimization.\n\nQUERY CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES:\n- Use QUOTED PHRASES for exact matches:
This record as markdown: /tools/cowork-bench/search-papers.md
What search_papers does on Cowork Bench
AI agents call search_papers to retrieve information from Cowork Bench without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why search_papers is rated Low
This tool searches and retrieves papers from arXiv, a public academic repository. It performs data retrieval with no capability to modify, delete, or execute operations. The search operation is read-only and has no destructive or side effects on the system or data. Low severity due to limited blast radius - worst case is returning irrelevant search results.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_papers' and description explicitly states 'Search for papers on arXiv' - a retrieval operation with no side effects. The phrase 'advanced filtering and query optimization' confirms it queries and retrieves data without modification.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs search_papers safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Cowork Bench, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For search_papers, this is the rule to start with:
search_papers is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Cowork Bench, apply this rule, and every search_papers call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about search_papers
Search for papers on arXiv with advanced filtering and query optimization.\n\nQUERY CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES:\n- Use QUOTED PHRASES for exact matches:. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Cowork Bench MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Cowork Bench MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_papers: 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 Cowork Bench. Nothing to install.
search_papers 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 search_papers 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 search_papers. 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.
search_papers is provided by the Cowork Bench MCP server (0717376/cowork_bench). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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