List recent papers from ArXiv (defaults to CS category if no query specified).
AI agents call list_papers to retrieve information from UniArticles MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and retrieves academic paper metadata from ArXiv without any capability to create, modify, delete, or execute code. It is a straightforward data retrieval operation with no side effects. The severity is low because misuse would only result in retrieving unintended academic literature, with no blast radius beyond bandwidth or quota consumption.
From the tool's definition The tool 'list_papers' retrieves recent papers from ArXiv with no parameters that would modify, delete, or execute external operations. The description indicates it 'List[s] recent papers' - a read-only retrieval operation.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_papers gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and UniArticles MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for list_papers:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_papers": {}
}
}list_papers is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List recent papers from ArXiv (defaults to CS category if no query specified). It is categorised as a Read tool in the UniArticles MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the UniArticles MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_papers: 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 UniArticles MCP Server. Nothing to install.
list_papers 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 list_papers 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 list_papers. 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.
list_papers is provided by the UniArticles MCP Server MCP server (thinktraveller/uniarticles_mcpserver). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from UniArticles MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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15 UniArticles MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.