MCP, MCP server
Find Research Papers Mcp
Scientific literature grounding MCP server for AI agents: unified search across 250M+ scholarly papers on arXiv, PubMed, OpenAlex, CrossRef, and Semantic Scholar.
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.
PERMISSION_DELETE_FILES NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST SECRETS_PATH_UNCONFIRMED INSTALL_DOCUMENTED_INSTALLER SECRETS_ENV_READ OBFUSCATION_FILE_OVER_READ_CAP
Why this grade
- PERMISSION_DELETE_FILES Low
Contains a call that can delete files.
papers_mcp/telemetry.py, line 194
out = subprocess.check_output( - NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST Low
Makes a network call whose host is not written as a fixed address.
install.sh, line 75
curl -s -m 3 -X POST "$TELEMETRY_URL" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "$payload" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true - SECRETS_PATH_UNCONFIRMED Low
The Secrets check reports a credential or environment file, but no quoted line shows a recognisable path.
papers_mcp/sources/semanticscholar.py, line 26
_KEY = os.getenv("FIND_RESEARCH_PAPERS_MCP_S2_API_KEY", "").strip() - INSTALL_DOCUMENTED_INSTALLER Note
Documentation shows an installer that pipes a download into a shell.
AGENTS.md, line 13
curl -fsSL "https://papers.builditwithai.xyz/install" | bash - SECRETS_ENV_READ Note
Reads an environment variable whose name contains KEY, SECRET, TOKEN, PASSWORD or CREDENTIAL.
papers_mcp/sources/semanticscholar.py, line 26
_KEY = os.getenv("FIND_RESEARCH_PAPERS_MCP_S2_API_KEY", "").strip() - OBFUSCATION_FILE_OVER_READ_CAP Note
A file was over the read cap and was not fully read.
uv.lock, line 1
version = 1
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
Concern
can delete files.
PERMISSION_DELETE_FILES
papers_mcp/telemetry.py, line 194
out = subprocess.check_output(
website/worker.js, line 491
os.remove(tmp_path)
Install and update
Note
The docs document an installer that pipes a download into a shell. README documents an installer that pipes a download into a shell.
INSTALL_DOCUMENTED_INSTALLER
AGENTS.md, line 13
curl -fsSL "https://papers.builditwithai.xyz/install" | bash
README.md, line 19
curl -fsSL "https://papers.builditwithai.xyz/install" | bash
website/src/index.md, line 37
curl -fsSL https://papers.builditwithai.xyz/install | bash
Show more
llms.txt, line 8
- Curl: `curl -fsSL https://papers.builditwithai.xyz/install | bash`
website/index.html, line 116
curl -fsSL https://papers.builditwithai.xyz/install | bash
Network
Concern
can reach a host that is not written as a fixed address.
NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST
install.sh, line 75
curl -s -m 3 -X POST "$TELEMETRY_URL" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "$payload" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
papers_mcp/server.py, line 134
with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=2.5) as resp:
papers_mcp/server.py, line 188
with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=1.5) as resp:
Show more
papers_mcp/server.py, line 988
resp = requests.get(f"{_SKILLS_BASE_URL}/{name}.md", timeout=5)
papers_mcp/telemetry.py, line 565
urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=3)
papers_mcp/sources/__init__.py, line 150
resp = requests.head(url, headers=DEFAULT_HEADERS, timeout=8,
papers_mcp/sources/arxiv.py, line 95
resp = requests.get(API_URL, params=params, headers=DEFAULT_HEADERS, timeout=10)
papers_mcp/sources/arxiv.py, line 118
resp = requests.get(API_URL, params=params, headers=DEFAULT_HEADERS, timeout=10)
Secrets
Concern
reads a credential or environment file.
SECRETS_ENV_READ SECRETS_PATH_UNCONFIRMED
papers_mcp/sources/semanticscholar.py, line 26
_KEY = os.getenv("FIND_RESEARCH_PAPERS_MCP_S2_API_KEY", "").strip()
website/worker.js, line 528
const existingEnv = (data.mcpServers[srvName] && data.mcpServers[srvName].env) || {};
.gitignore, line 7
build/
Agent instructions
Pass
No instruction to ignore earlier instructions or to hide a step.
Obfuscation
Note
a file was over the read cap and was not fully read.
OBFUSCATION_FILE_OVER_READ_CAP
uv.lock, line 1
version = 1
Licence
Pass
A licence file is present (LICENSE).
Maintainer activity
Pass
The latest commit is within the last 365 days.
Note
Hygiene check of commit 830e2fcf45cc. can delete files. The docs document an installer that pipes a download into a shell. 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. a file was over the read cap and was not fully read.
Date and source
Date checked:
github.com
Commit graded: 830e2fcf45ccb654fd58eed429da8b2151f07735
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