update_interest_profile

THE RISK

Medium Risk

Why update_interest_profile needs a policy

This tool modifies a user's stored interest profile (topics, keywords, tracked labs, authors) but does not delete data permanently, execute external code, or cause financial transactions. The changes are reversible — items can be added or removed again.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Add or remove items from the interest profile' — this directly modifies user preferences and configuration data. 'Add or remove' are characteristic Write operations that create or alter data reversibly.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access update_interest_profile gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control update_interest_profile

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Paper Scout MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for update_interest_profile:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "update_interest_profile": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "update_interest_profile_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

update_interest_profile stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Paper Scout MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Paper Scout MCP Server tools

Write record_share Record that a paper was shared on a platform, with the summary used. Feeds back into scori Write update_paper_status Update a candidate paper Read assess_significance Get structured context for assessing a paper Read get_interest_profile Get the current interest profile including topics, keywords, tracked labs, and tracked aut Read get_paper_detail Get full details for a specific paper including all scores, author info, and citation data Read get_pipeline_status Get the status of the ingestion pipeline: last run time, stats, next scheduled run, and an Read get_todays_papers Get today Read search_papers Full-text search across all stored papers (not just today

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Argument validation → Checking tool call arguments against schema and policy before they run.
Scoped token → Per-person credentials that grant a defined subset of servers and tools.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about update_interest_profile

What does the update_interest_profile tool do? +

Add or remove items from the interest profile (topics, keywords, tracked labs, or tracked authors). It is categorised as a Write tool in the Paper Scout MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on update_interest_profile? +

Register the Paper Scout MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for update_interest_profile: 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 Paper Scout MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is update_interest_profile? +

update_interest_profile is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit update_interest_profile? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the update_interest_profile 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.

How do I block update_interest_profile completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for update_interest_profile. 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 update_interest_profile? +

update_interest_profile is provided by the Paper Scout MCP Server MCP server (jonradoff/paper-scout). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Paper Scout MCP Server tool call.

Start from Paper Scout MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →