AI agents call get_references 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 returns bibliographic data without creating, modifying, or deleting any information. It is a straightforward read operation that retrieves existing reference metadata from the NASA ADS database. No side effects, no data mutation, no execution of external code.
From the tool's definition Tool retrieves reference list (citations) for a given paper bibcode. Description indicates data retrieval with no modification: 'Papers cited BY the given bibcode (its reference list)'.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Papers cited BY the given bibcode (its reference list). 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_references: 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_references 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_references 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_references. 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_references 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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