MCP, MCP server
ScholarMCP
ScholarMCP is an open-source MCP server for academic research.
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 0d34ff55f4f6, unchanged since the check below.
PERMISSION_DELETE_FILES NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST NETWORK_UNNAMED_HOST SECRETS_PATH_DOTENV
Why this grade
- PERMISSION_DELETE_FILES Low
Contains a call that can delete files.
packages/scholar-mcp/src/research/ingestion-service.ts, line 487
await fs.unlink(tempPath).catch(() => undefined); - NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST Low
Makes a network call whose host is not written as a fixed address.
apps/docs/src/scripts/search.ts, line 13
loadingPromise = fetch('/search-index.json', { headers: { accept: 'application/json' } }) - NETWORK_UNNAMED_HOST Low
Calls a fixed host that the description does not name.
apps/docs/src/scripts/search.ts, line 13
loadingPromise = fetch('/search-index.json', { headers: { accept: 'application/json' } }) - SECRETS_PATH_DOTENV Low
Mentions a .env file.
.gitignore, line 47
# Ignore .env and .env.local.old (may contain secrets)
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
packages/scholar-mcp/src/research/ingestion-service.ts, line 487
await fs.unlink(tempPath).catch(() => undefined);
Install and update
Pass
No install-time script found, and dependencies are pinned or absent.
Network
Concern
can reach a host that is not written as a fixed address. can reach api.indexnow.org. The description does not name that host.
NETWORK_NO_FIXED_HOST NETWORK_UNNAMED_HOST
apps/docs/src/scripts/search.ts, line 13
loadingPromise = fetch('/search-index.json', { headers: { accept: 'application/json' } })
packages/scholar-mcp/src/research/http-client.ts, line 27
const response = await fetch(url, {
packages/scholar-mcp/src/research/ingestion-service.ts, line 460
const response = await fetch(source.pdfUrl, {
Show more
packages/scholar-mcp/src/research/ingestion-service.ts, line 536
const response = await fetch(url, {
packages/scholar-mcp/src/research/ingestion-service.ts, line 585
const response = await fetch(paperUrl, {
packages/scholar-mcp/src/scholar/scholar-client.ts, line 66
const response = await fetch(requestUrl, {
scripts/submit-docs-indexnow.mjs, line 17
const request = () => fetch(new URL(canonical.pathname + canonical.search, readOrigin), {
scripts/submit-docs-indexnow.mjs, line 77
const response = await fetch('https://api.indexnow.org/indexnow', {
Secrets
Concern
reads a credential or environment file.
SECRETS_PATH_DOTENV
.gitignore, line 47
# Ignore .env and .env.local.old (may contain secrets)
.gitignore, line 48
.env
README.md, line 227
The CLI loads `.env` from the current working directory automatically at startup.
Show more
apps/docs/src/content/docs/reference/configuration.md, line 8
ScholarMCP reads configuration from environment variables (and automatically loads `.env` in the current working directory at startup).
packages/scholar-mcp/README.md, line 170
The CLI loads `.env` from the current working directory automatically at startup.
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
Pass
The latest commit is within the last 365 days.
Note
Hygiene check of commit 0d34ff55f4f6. can delete files. can reach a host that is not written as a fixed address. can reach api.indexnow.org. The description does not name that host. reads a credential or environment file.
Date and source
Date checked:
github.com
Commit graded: 0d34ff55f4f6fdcdbd63c5e57da315925bf32403
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