search_literature_graph

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_literature_graph needs a policy

This tool retrieves and queries academic metadata from multiple sources (OpenAlex, Crossref, Semantic Scholar) and returns canonicalized results. It has no side effects on the queried databases or the user's data. It is purely informational retrieval, fitting the Read category. Severity is low because misuse would at worst return irrelevant search results with no destructive or harmful consequences.

From the tool's definition Tool performs search operations across scholarly metadata providers and returns paper records. The name contains 'search' and description uses 'Search... and return', indicating retrieval without modification.

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

POLICY

How to control search_literature_graph

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

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "search_literature_graph": {}
  }
}

search_literature_graph is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

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

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More ScholarMCP tools

Write ingest_paper_fulltext Resolve and ingest a full-text PDF from DOI/URL/local file, then parse into a structured d Read build_reference_list Generate CSL-formatted bibliography and BibTeX entries from manuscript context or explicit Read extract_granular_paper_details Extract claims, methods, limitations, datasets, metrics, and section-aware summaries from Read get_author_info Retrieve a Google Scholar author profile and top publications by author name. Read get_ingestion_status Get the status of a previously started ingest_paper_fulltext job. Read search_google_scholar_advanced Search Google Scholar using keyword, author, year-range, phrase, and exclusion filters. Read search_google_scholar_key_words Search Google Scholar using keywords and return paper metadata. Read suggest_contextual_citations Recommend citations from the federated literature graph based on manuscript context.

All 10 ScholarMCP tools →

Read tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server get_torrent_detail YouTube MCP Server search_channel Android Forensics ADB MCP Server parse_browser_history 0xarchive web3_challenge

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about search_literature_graph

What does the search_literature_graph tool do? +

Search multiple scholarly metadata providers (OpenAlex, Crossref, Semantic Scholar, optional Scholar scrape) and return canonicalized paper records. It is categorised as a Read tool in the ScholarMCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_literature_graph? +

Register the Scholar MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_literature_graph: 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 ScholarMCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is search_literature_graph? +

search_literature_graph is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit search_literature_graph? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_literature_graph 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 search_literature_graph completely? +

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

search_literature_graph is provided by the Scholar MCP server (lstudlo/scholarmcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every ScholarMCP tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →