Low Risk

search_pubmed

Search academic papers from PubMed. Args: query: Search query string (e.g., 'machine learning'). max_results: Maximum number of papers to return (default: 10). Returns: List of paper metadata in dictionary format.

Accepts freeform code/query input (query)

Part of the Paper Search Mcp Openai V2 MCP server. Enforce policies on this tool with Intercept, the open-source MCP proxy.

AI agents call search_pubmed to retrieve information from Paper Search Mcp Openai V2 without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.

Even though search_pubmed only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.

Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.

titansneaker-paper-search-mcp-openai-v2.yaml
tools:
  search_pubmed:
    rules:
      - action: allow

See the full Paper Search Mcp Openai V2 policy for all 25 tools.

Tool Name search_pubmed
Category Read
Risk Level Low

View all 25 tools →

Agents calling read-class tools like search_pubmed have been implicated in these attack patterns. Read the full case and prevention policy for each:

Browse the full MCP Attack Database →

Other tools in the Read risk category across the catalogue. The same policy patterns (rate-limit, allow) apply to each.

What does the search_pubmed tool do? +

Search academic papers from PubMed. Args: query: Search query string (e.g., 'machine learning'). max_results: Maximum number of papers to return (default: 10). Returns: List of paper metadata in dictionary format. . It is categorised as a Read tool in the Paper Search Mcp Openai V2 MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_pubmed? +

Add a rule in your Intercept YAML policy under the tools section for search_pubmed. You can allow, deny, rate-limit, or validate arguments. Then run Intercept as a proxy in front of the Paper Search Mcp Openai V2 MCP server.

What risk level is search_pubmed? +

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

Can I rate-limit search_pubmed? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_pubmed rule in your Intercept 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_pubmed completely? +

Set action: deny in the Intercept policy for search_pubmed. 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_pubmed? +

search_pubmed is provided by the Paper Search Mcp Openai V2 MCP server (TitanSneaker/paper-search-mcp-openai-v2). Intercept sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policies on Paper Search Mcp Openai V2

Open source. One binary. Zero dependencies.

npx -y @policylayer/intercept
github.com/policylayer/intercept →
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