Low Risk

read_zenodo_paper

Read and extract text content from a Zenodo paper. Args: paper_id: Zenodo paper identifier. save_path: Directory where the PDF is/will be saved (default: './downloads'). Returns: str: Extracted text content.

How to control read_zenodo_paper ↓

AI agents call read_zenodo_paper to retrieve information from Paper Search MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Low Risk

This tool retrieves and extracts text from academic papers—a query/fetch operation with no ability to modify, delete, or execute arbitrary code. The save_path parameter stores a local copy but does not alter the source document or trigger external operations. Consistent with sibling download_* tools which are also read operations for academic paper retrieval.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'read_zenodo_paper' and description 'Read and extract text content' indicate retrieval operation. Function returns extracted text (str) with no modification, deletion, or side effects mentioned.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access read_zenodo_paper 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 read_zenodo_paper:

policy.json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "read_zenodo_paper": {}
  }
}

read_zenodo_paper is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

  1. Create a free account and register Paper Search MCP — nothing to install.
  2. Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
  3. Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.
CAP THIS TOOL →

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Go deeper

What does the read_zenodo_paper tool do? +

Read and extract text content from a Zenodo paper. Args: paper_id: Zenodo paper identifier. save_path: Directory where the PDF is/will be saved (default: './downloads'). Returns: str: Extracted text content. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Paper Search MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on read_zenodo_paper? +

Register the Paper Search MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for read_zenodo_paper: 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.

What risk level is read_zenodo_paper? +

read_zenodo_paper is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit read_zenodo_paper? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the read_zenodo_paper 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.

How do I block read_zenodo_paper completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for read_zenodo_paper. 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.

What MCP server provides read_zenodo_paper? +

read_zenodo_paper 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.

Enforce policy on every Paper Search MCP tool call.

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.

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