Search for academic papers in OpenAlex database by keywords. Returns simplified paper metadata with title, authors, publication venue, year, citation count, and open access status.
AI agents call openalex_search to retrieve information from OpenAlex MCP Server 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 the OpenAlex database without any side effects. It performs a read-only search operation that returns information only, matching the definition of the Read category. The severity is low because misuse would only expose publicly available academic metadata without risk of data loss, financial impact, or system compromise.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states it 'Search for academic papers' and 'Returns simplified paper metadata' (title, authors, venue, year, citations, OA status). No modification, deletion, or code execution capability mentioned.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search for academic papers in OpenAlex database by keywords. Returns simplified paper metadata with title, authors, publication venue, year, citation count, and open access status. It is categorised as a Read tool in the OpenAlex MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the OpenAlex MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for openalex_search: 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 OpenAlex MCP Server. Nothing to install.
openalex_search 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 openalex_search 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 openalex_search. 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.
openalex_search is provided by the OpenAlex MCP Server MCP server (secretrichgarden/openalex-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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