Search collections by name
AI agents call search_collections to retrieve information from Zotero Agent without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool performs a read-only search operation on Zotero collections, retrieving matching results by name. It has no side effects, does not execute code or external operations, and does not modify, delete, or create data. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an attacker could only discover or enumerate collections, which is a low-severity information disclosure risk in a research bibliography context.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_collections' and description 'Search collections by name' indicate a query operation that retrieves collection data without modifying or deleting anything.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search collections by name. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Zotero Agent MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Zotero Agent MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_collections: 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 Agent. Nothing to install.
search_collections 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 search_collections 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 search_collections. 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.
search_collections is provided by the Zotero Agent MCP server (psiQAQ/zotero-agent). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
search_collections is one line of Zotero Agent's registry record.
The record carries the whole server: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, every tool classified, recommended policy — re-checked continuously.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →