Get recently added items to your Zotero library.
AI agents call zotero_get_recent to retrieve information from Zotero 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 metadata about recently added reference items from the Zotero library without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a read-only query with minimal blast radius—the worst outcome of misuse would be unauthorized access to library metadata, which is information disclosure rather than data loss or system compromise.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'zotero_get_recent' combined with description 'Get recently added items to your Zotero library' indicates retrieval of existing data with no modification or deletion. This is a straightforward query operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get recently added items to your Zotero library. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Zotero MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Zotero MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for zotero_get_recent: 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 Zotero MCP Server. Nothing to install.
zotero_get_recent 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 zotero_get_recent 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 zotero_get_recent. 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.
zotero_get_recent is provided by the Zotero MCP Server MCP server (tspspi/zotero-mcp-postgres-ollama-fulltext). 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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