MCP, MCP server
Paper Search Mcp
MCP, CLI, Skills for searching and downloading academic papers from multiple sources like arXiv, PubMed, bioRxiv, etc.
Compatibility: Not stated.
Grade D
Two or more Medium findings, or a High finding. Only try it in a sandbox.
Not a guarantee. A hygiene check of the source at the commit shown, not a security audit.
Rescanned at commit cab1b5cc276a, unchanged since the check below.
PERMISSION_SHELL_UNDECLARED SECRETS_PATH_CREDENTIAL
Why this grade
- PERMISSION_SHELL_UNDECLARED Medium
Runs shell commands that the manifest or description does not mention.
paper_search_mcp/sections.py, line 200
process = subprocess.Popen(_worker_command(), stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, - SECRETS_PATH_CREDENTIAL Medium
Mentions a credential store path (~/.ssh, id_rsa, .npmrc, .aws/credentials, credentials.json, .netrc).
paper_search_mcp/search_cache.py, line 38
locations = (configured,) if configured is not None else ("~/.netrc", "~/_netrc")
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
requests shell access. No manifest field names shell or command execution. can delete files.
PERMISSION_SHELL_UNDECLARED PERMISSION_DELETE_FILES
paper_search_mcp/sections.py, line 200
process = subprocess.Popen(_worker_command(), stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
paper_search_mcp/server.py, line 361
os.remove(temporary_path)
paper_search_mcp/server.py, line 1272
os.remove(fallback_result)
Show more
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/arxiv.py, line 285
os.remove(temporary_path)
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/semantic.py, line 432
os.remove(temporary_path)
Install and update
Note
README documents an installer that pipes a download into a shell.
INSTALL_DOCUMENTED_INSTALLER
README.md, line 438
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
README.md, line 591
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/academic_platforms/acm.py, line 81
response = requests.get(
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/arxiv.py, line 250
with requests.get(pdf_url, stream=True, timeout=(10, 30)) as response:
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/core.py, line 109
candidate = requests.get(
Show more
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/iacr.py, line 247
pdf_response = requests.get(paper.pdf_url, timeout=30)
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/openaire.py, line 83
response = requests.get(
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/pubmed.py, line 24
search_response = requests.get(
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/pubmed.py, line 39
fetch_response = requests.get(
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/semantic.py, line 398
response = requests.get(pdf_url, timeout=30)
Secrets
Concern
reads a credential or environment file.
SECRETS_PATH_CREDENTIAL SECRETS_PATH_DOTENV
paper_search_mcp/config.py, line 19
user_config_env = Path.home() / ".config" / "paper-search-mcp" / ".env"
paper_search_mcp/search_cache.py, line 38
locations = (configured,) if configured is not None else ("~/.netrc", "~/_netrc")
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/openreview.py, line 24
# An explicit no-op auth object suppresses requests' .netrc lookup,
Show more
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/openreview.py, line 41
# Do not pick up .netrc credentials for this anonymous-only connector.
paper_search_mcp/academic_platforms/ssrn.py, line 35
# Do not automatically use an SSRN account from .netrc.
.env.example, line 2
# Copy this file to ~/.config/paper-search-mcp/.env and fill in the values you need.
.env.example, line 28
# PAPER_SEARCH_MCP_ENV_FILE=/absolute/path/to/.env
.gitignore, line 127
# Environments
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 cab1b5cc276a. requests shell access. No manifest field names shell or command execution. can delete files. 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: cab1b5cc276a0cd004a0044003926a6440088049
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.