Disambiguate a human author name into ranked identity candidates. Use this before scholarfetch_author_papers when the name is ambiguous and you need a stable candidate_index. If you pass engines, it must include openalex.
Part of the ScholarFetch server.
Free to start. No card required.
AI agents call scholarfetch_author_candidates to retrieve information from ScholarFetch 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.
Even though scholarfetch_author_candidates 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.
Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"scholarfetch_author_candidates": {}
}
}See the full ScholarFetch policy for all 12 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access scholarfetch_author_candidates gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other read tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: allow, with a rate cap to control cost.
Disambiguate a human author name into ranked identity candidates. Use this before scholarfetch_author_papers when the name is ambiguous and you need a stable candidate_index. If you pass engines, it must include openalex.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the ScholarFetch MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the ScholarFetch MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for scholarfetch_author_candidates: 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 ScholarFetch. Nothing to install.
scholarfetch_author_candidates 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 scholarfetch_author_candidates 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 scholarfetch_author_candidates. 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.
scholarfetch_author_candidates is provided by the ScholarFetch MCP server (https://laibniz-scholarfetch-web.hf.space/mcp/). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 12 ScholarFetch tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
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