Search the npm registry for packages matching a text query.
AI agents call search_packages to retrieve information from Universal Mcp Toolkit without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries the npm registry to find packages based on search criteria. It performs a read-only lookup operation that retrieves information without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any code. The npm registry is a public data source, and search operations are idempotent queries with no destructive or state-altering consequences.
From the tool's definition Tool description states: 'Search the npm registry for packages matching a text query.' The verb 'search' combined with 'matching a text query' indicates retrieval of public package metadata with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search the npm registry for packages matching a text query. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Universal Mcp Toolkit MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Universal Mcp Toolkit MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_packages: 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 Universal Mcp Toolkit. Nothing to install.
search_packages 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_packages 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_packages. 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_packages is provided by the Universal Mcp Toolkit MCP server (markgatcha/universal-mcp-toolkit). 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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