Search ACM Digital Library for papers. Requires PAPER_SEARCH_MCP_ACM_API_KEY (or ACM_API_KEY). Args: query: Search query string. max_results: Maximum number of results (default: 10). Returns: List of paper dicts from ACM DL.
AI agents call search_acm 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.
This tool retrieves academic paper metadata from ACM Digital Library based on a search query. It has no side effects—it does not create, modify, delete, or execute any operations. The max_results parameter is a safe filtering constraint. The API key requirement is standard authentication, not indicative of write or execute capabilities.
From the tool's definition Tool performs a search query against ACM Digital Library and returns a list of paper dicts. The description uses 'search' and 'returns', indicating data retrieval with no modification, deletion, or execution of external code.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_acm 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 search_acm:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"search_acm": {}
}
}search_acm is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
Search ACM Digital Library for papers. Requires PAPER_SEARCH_MCP_ACM_API_KEY (or ACM_API_KEY). Args: query: Search query string. max_results: Maximum number of results (default: 10). Returns: List of paper dicts from ACM DL. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Paper Search MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Paper Search MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_acm: 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.
search_acm 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 search_acm 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 search_acm. 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.
search_acm 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.