Download PDF of an IACR ePrint paper. Args: paper_id: IACR paper ID (e.g., '2009/101'). save_path: Directory to save the PDF (default: './downloads'). Returns: Path to the downloaded PDF file.
AI agents use download_iacr to create or update resources in Paper Search MCP — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Paper Search MCP environment.
This tool fetches a PDF from IACR and writes it to the local filesystem. It creates a new file on disk, which is a Write operation. It does not delete data, execute code, or involve financial transactions. Severity is low because it only downloads publicly available academic papers to a local directory.
From the tool's definition Download PDF of an IACR ePrint paper... save_path: Directory to save the PDF
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access download_iacr gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Paper Search MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for download_iacr:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"download_iacr": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "download_iacr_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}download_iacr stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
Download PDF of an IACR ePrint paper. Args: paper_id: IACR paper ID (e.g., '2009/101'). save_path: Directory to save the PDF (default: './downloads'). Returns: Path to the downloaded PDF file. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Paper Search MCP MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Paper Search MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for download_iacr: 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 Paper Search MCP. Nothing to install.
download_iacr is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the download_iacr 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 download_iacr. 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.
download_iacr is provided by the Paper Search MCP server (openags/paper-search-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 63 Paper Search MCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
63 Paper Search MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.