Search for text in a PDF file and return results with page numbers.
AI agents call search_pdf_text to retrieve information from Pdf Navigator without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and returns search results from a PDF document without altering data, creating, executing code, deleting content, or moving money. It is a straightforward read operation with minimal risk even if misused by an agent.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Search for text in a PDF file and return results' — a query operation with no modification or side effects. Sibling tools like 'read_pdf_page' and 'read_pdf_text' confirm this server's primary function is information retrieval.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_pdf_text gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Pdf Navigator, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for search_pdf_text:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"search_pdf_text": {}
}
}search_pdf_text is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Search for text in a PDF file and return results with page numbers. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Pdf Navigator MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Pdf Navigator MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_pdf_text: 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 Pdf Navigator. Nothing to install.
search_pdf_text 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_pdf_text 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_pdf_text. 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_pdf_text is provided by the Pdf Navigator MCP server (matsengrp/pdf-navigator-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Pdf Navigator, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
7 Pdf Navigator tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.