search_npm

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_npm needs a policy

This tool retrieves package information from the NPM registry without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It is a straightforward read operation analogous to searching a database or listing results. The broader server context (dependency management) does not alter this classification for this specific tool.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'search_npm' and description states 'Search for npm packages' — a query operation with no side effects.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_npm gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control search_npm

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and NPM Helper MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for search_npm:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "search_npm": {}
  }
}

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

Create a free account and register NPM Helper MCP — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More NPM Helper MCP tools

Execute run_doctor Iteratively install upgrades and run tests Execute filter_updates Check/upgrade updates for specific packages Write upgrade_packages Upgrade dependencies in package.json Write resolve_conflicts Handle dependency conflicts (uses Write set_version_constraints Configure version upgrade rules for dependencies Read check_updates Scan package.json for outdated dependencies Read fetch_package_content Fetch detailed content from an npm package page URL Read get_package_details Get detailed information about an npm package

All 10 NPM Helper MCP tools →

Read tools on other servers

M-Team MCP Server get_torrent_detail YouTube MCP Server search_channel Android Forensics ADB MCP Server parse_browser_history 0xarchive web3_challenge

Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about search_npm

What does the search_npm tool do? +

Search for npm packages. It is categorised as a Read tool in the NPM Helper MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_npm? +

Register the NPM Helper MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_npm: 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 NPM Helper MCP. Nothing to install.

What risk level is search_npm? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_npm? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_npm 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 search_npm completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for search_npm. 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 search_npm? +

search_npm is provided by the NPM Helper MCP server (pinkpixel-dev/npm-helper-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every NPM Helper MCP tool call.

Start from NPM Helper MCP, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →