Check if a PDF is scanned/image-based
AI agents call is_scanned_pdf to retrieve information from MCP PDF without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a read-only check to determine whether a PDF is scanned (image-based) versus text-based. It retrieves and analyzes metadata or content characteristics but produces no side effects, does not modify the document, and does not execute arbitrary operations. It is a straightforward classification/detection query.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'is_scanned_pdf' and description 'Check if a PDF is scanned/image-based' indicate a query operation that examines document properties without modification or execution.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access is_scanned_pdf gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and MCP PDF, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for is_scanned_pdf:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"is_scanned_pdf": {}
}
}is_scanned_pdf is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Check if a PDF is scanned/image-based. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP PDF MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the MCP PDF MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for is_scanned_pdf: 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 MCP PDF. Nothing to install.
is_scanned_pdf 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 is_scanned_pdf 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 is_scanned_pdf. 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.
is_scanned_pdf is provided by the MCP PDF MCP server (rsp2k/mcp-pdf). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from MCP PDF, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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46 MCP PDF tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.