AI agents call get_citations to retrieve information from Nasa Ads without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and retrieves bibliographic/citation information from the NASA ADS database without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a straightforward data retrieval function that presents no risk of unintended side effects or data mutation.
From the tool's definition Tool retrieves citation data for a given paper (bibcode), returning papers that cite it sorted by citation count. The verb 'get' and description indicating data retrieval with no modification capability confirms this is a read-only operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Papers that cite the given bibcode, sorted by citation count. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Nasa Ads MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Nasa Ads MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_citations: 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 Nasa Ads. Nothing to install.
get_citations 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 get_citations 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 get_citations. 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.
get_citations is provided by the Nasa Ads MCP server (mubashir1osmani/nasa-ads). 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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