List all available research topics (vector databases).
AI agents call list_research_topics to retrieve information from Research Assistant without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and returns a list of available research topics without creating, modifying, or deleting any data. It is a simple read operation with minimal blast radius if misused by an AI agent—the worst case being information disclosure of topic names.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_research_topics' and description 'List all available research topics' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects. Confirmed by sibling tools showing this server's pattern: delete and save operations are separate tools.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
List all available research topics (vector databases). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Research Assistant MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Research Assistant MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_research_topics: 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 Research Assistant. Nothing to install.
list_research_topics 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 list_research_topics 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 list_research_topics. 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.
list_research_topics is provided by the Research Assistant MCP server (laxmimerit/research-assistant-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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