MCP, MCP server
ai.smithery/adamamer20-paper-search-mcp-openai
Search and download academic papers from arXiv, PubMed, bioRxiv, medRxiv, Google Scholar, Semantic…
Compatibility: Not stated.
Grade B
Minor issues only, no Medium or High. Worth a quick look at the findings below before installing.
Not a guarantee. A hygiene check of the source at the commit shown, not a security audit.
Rescanned at commit 671f5728b3d2, unchanged since the check below.
NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST SECRETS_PATH_UNCONFIRMED INSTALL_DOCUMENTED_INSTALLER SECRETS_ENV_READ
Why this grade
- NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST Low
Makes a network call whose host is not written as a fixed address.
paper_search_mcp/server.py, line 283
async def fetch(id: str | None = None, document_id: str | None = None) -> CallToolResult: - SECRETS_PATH_UNCONFIRMED Low
The Secrets check reports a credential or environment file, but no quoted line shows a recognisable path.
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/semantic.py, line 153
api_key = os.getenv("SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY") - INSTALL_DOCUMENTED_INSTALLER Note
Documentation shows an installer that pipes a download into a shell.
README.md, line 98
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh - SECRETS_ENV_READ Note
Reads an environment variable whose name contains KEY, SECRET, TOKEN, PASSWORD or CREDENTIAL.
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/semantic.py, line 153
api_key = os.getenv("SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY")
Any High, or two or more Medium findings, give D. One Medium gives C. Low findings or a security Note give B. Each code names a finding behind the letter.
Grades are a hygiene check of the source at the commit shown, on the date checked, not a security audit or a guarantee. The free directory grades are automated. Before release, a PlugVet engineer reviews every paid report and any grade we hold back, including all F grades, against the source code and the evidence we quote.
What was checked
Plain notes from the hygiene checks.
Permissions
Pass
No shell or command execution found, and no extra permission was declared.
Install and update
Note
README documents an installer that pipes a download into a shell.
INSTALL_DOCUMENTED_INSTALLER
README.md, line 98
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
Network
Concern
can reach a host that is not written as a fixed address.
NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST
paper_search_mcp/server.py, line 283
async def fetch(id: str | None = None, document_id: str | None = None) -> CallToolResult:
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/arxiv.py, line 32
response = requests.get(self.BASE_URL, params=params)
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/arxiv.py, line 61
response = requests.get(pdf_url)
Show more
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/iacr.py, line 251
pdf_response = requests.get(paper.pdf_url, timeout=30)
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/pubmed.py, line 32
search_response = requests.get(self.SEARCH_URL, params=search_params)
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/pubmed.py, line 41
fetch_response = requests.get(self.FETCH_URL, params=fetch_params)
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/semantic.py, line 298
pdf_response = requests.get(pdf_url, timeout=30)
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/semantic.py, line 340
pdf_response = requests.get(paper.pdf_url, timeout=30)
Secrets
Concern
reads a credential or environment file.
SECRETS_ENV_READ SECRETS_PATH_UNCONFIRMED
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/semantic.py, line 153
api_key = os.getenv("SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY")
.gitignore, line 127
# Environments
Agent instructions
Pass
No instruction to ignore earlier instructions or to hide a step.
Obfuscation
Pass
No encoded or minified payload found.
Licence
Pass
A licence file is present (LICENSE).
Maintainer activity
Note
the latest commit is more than 365 days old.
MAINTAINER_STALE
No file path was stored.
2025-09-18T18:51:36+02:00
Note
Hygiene check of commit 671f5728b3d2. README documents an installer that pipes a download into a shell. can reach a host that is not written as a fixed address. reads a credential or environment file. the latest commit is more than 365 days old.
Date and source
Date checked:
github.com
Commit graded: 671f5728b3d2f26881fc7ac89cb1c3547448ca64
This link goes to the original host. PlugVet does not host or check what you download from there, and installing it is your own decision and risk.