Download PDF for a paper from OpenAIRE. Args: paper_id: OpenAIRE paper identifier. save_path: Directory to save the PDF (default: './downloads'). Returns: str: Path to downloaded PDF or error message.
AI agents use download_openaire 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.
The tool downloads a remote file and writes it to the local filesystem. This is a Write operation (creates a new file on disk). It does not execute code, delete data, or involve financial transactions. Severity is low because it only saves academic PDFs to a local directory.
From the tool's definition Download PDF for a paper from OpenAIRE... save_path: Directory to save the PDF (default: './downloads')
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access download_openaire 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_openaire:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"download_openaire": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "download_openaire_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}download_openaire 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 for a paper from OpenAIRE. Args: paper_id: OpenAIRE paper identifier. save_path: Directory to save the PDF (default: './downloads'). Returns: str: Path to downloaded PDF or error message. 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_openaire: 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_openaire 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_openaire 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_openaire. 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_openaire 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.