Search academic papers from HAL open archive. 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_hal 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 HAL without side effects. It does not create, modify, delete, or execute any operations. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could spam searches or retrieve large volumes of public metadata, but cannot modify data, execute code, or cause financial harm.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_hal' and description 'Search academic papers from HAL open archive' with return of 'paper metadata' indicates data retrieval only. Arguments are query string and result limit; no modification, deletion, or execution of code.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_hal 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_hal:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"search_hal": {}
}
}search_hal 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 HAL open archive. 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_hal: 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_hal 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_hal 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_hal. 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_hal 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.