Search academic papers from DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals). Args: query: Search query string (e.g., 'machine learning'). max_results: Maximum number of papers to return (default: 10). Returns: List of paper metadata in dictionary format.
AI agents call search_doaj 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 and queries academic paper metadata from DOAJ without side effects. It performs a read operation against a public academic database. There is no capability to modify, delete, execute code, or initiate financial transactions. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an AI agent could only retrieve excess amounts of metadata or spam searches, which would not cause damage to systems or data.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Search[es] academic papers' and 'Returns: List of paper metadata in dictionary format.' The arguments are query and max_results (pagination/filtering), with no mention of modification, deletion, or execution capabilities.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_doaj 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_doaj:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"search_doaj": {}
}
}search_doaj is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Search academic papers from DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals). Args: query: Search query string (e.g., 'machine learning'). max_results: Maximum number of papers to return (default: 10). Returns: List of paper metadata in dictionary format. 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_doaj: 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_doaj 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_doaj 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_doaj. 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_doaj 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.