insert_citation · Zotero Word MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What insert_citation does on Zotero Word

AI agents use insert_citation to create or update resources in Zotero Word — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Zotero Word environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why insert_citation needs a policy

insert_citation creates or modifies content in Word documents by inserting citation fields. This is a reversible operation (citations can be edited or removed), placing it squarely in the Write category rather than Execute or Destructive. The severity is medium because while document modification can cause issues, the scope is limited to citation insertion in a single document and the operation is reversible.

From the tool's definition Tool description indicates it 'inserts Zotero native citation fields' into Word documents. The core MCP server description confirms it enables 'insertion of native Zotero citations and bibliographies into Microsoft Word desktop documents.' The Chinese…

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

insert_citation Rate-limited

insert_citation stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "insert_citation": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "insert_citation_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

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PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Zotero Word, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about insert_citation

What does the insert_citation tool do? +

向 Word 文档插入 Zotero 原生引文字段，并可选自动刷新。. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Zotero Word MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on insert_citation? +

Register the Zotero Word MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for insert_citation: 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 Word. Nothing to install.

What risk level is insert_citation? +

insert_citation is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit insert_citation? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the insert_citation 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.

How do I block insert_citation completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for insert_citation. 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 insert_citation? +

insert_citation is provided by the Zotero Word MCP server (zhangchaokai1/zotero-word-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.