list-labels
List Gmail labels. Returns: array with id, name, type (system/user). Use when: showing folder structure, finding label IDs. Note: includes system labels like INBOX, SENT.
This record as markdown: /tools/199-biotechnologies-mcp-google/list-labels.md
What list-labels does on MCP Google Workspace
AI agents call list-labels to retrieve information from MCP Google Workspace without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why list-labels is rated Low
This tool queries and returns Gmail label metadata without creating, modifying, or deleting data. It is a standard read operation with no destructive or state-changing effects. Severity is low because label enumeration poses minimal risk—it reveals organizational structure but not sensitive email content itself.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'list-labels' and description 'List Gmail labels. Returns: array with id, name, type' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs list-labels safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and MCP Google Workspace, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For list-labels, this is the rule to start with:
list-labels is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect MCP Google Workspace, apply this rule, and every list-labels call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about list-labels
List Gmail labels. Returns: array with id, name, type (system/user). Use when: showing folder structure, finding label IDs. Note: includes system labels like INBOX, SENT. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Google Workspace MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the MCP Google Workspace MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list-labels: 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 MCP Google Workspace. Nothing to install.
list-labels 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 list-labels 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 list-labels. 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.
list-labels is provided by the MCP Google Workspace MCP server (199-mcp/mcp-google). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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