get_author_metrics

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why get_author_metrics needs a policy

This tool retrieves pre-computed bibliometric data (h-index and related metrics) for authors from the NASA ADS database. It performs a read-only query with no capability to modify, delete, or execute operations. The data returned is factual, public information about published scholarly metrics. An AI agent misusing this tool could at worst retrieve metrics for unintended authors, with minimal security impact.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_author_metrics' and description 'Get comprehensive metrics for an author including h-index' indicate a retrieval operation that queries and returns data about author metrics without any side effects, modifications, or external operations.

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

POLICY

How to control get_author_metrics

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

policy.json

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

get_author_metrics 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 NASA ADS MCP Server — 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 NASA ADS MCP Server tools

Write add_to_library Add papers to an existing library. Write create_library Create a new paper library/collection. Read get_author_papers Find all papers by a specific author. Read get_library_papers Get all papers from a specific library. Read get_paper_details Get detailed information about a specific paper using its bibcode. Read get_paper_metrics Get detailed metrics for specific papers including citation count, Read list_libraries List all your personal paper libraries/collections in ADS. Read search_papers Search NASA ADS for astronomy/astrophysics papers.

All 10 NASA ADS MCP Server 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 get_author_metrics

What does the get_author_metrics tool do? +

Get comprehensive metrics for an author including h-index,. It is categorised as a Read tool in the NASA ADS MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on get_author_metrics? +

Register the NASA ADS MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_author_metrics: 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 NASA ADS MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is get_author_metrics? +

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

Can I rate-limit get_author_metrics? +

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

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

get_author_metrics is provided by the NASA ADS MCP Server MCP server (prtc/nasa-ads-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every NASA ADS MCP Server tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →