manage_scratchpad
Compose, edit, and deliver text content. Use for any multi-line content: emails, documents, descriptions. Compose in the scratchpad, edit by line or JSON path, attach files, then send to any target. For short one-liners, use the service tool directly instead.
This record as markdown: /tools/aaronsb-google-workspace-mcp/manage-scratchpad.md
What manage_scratchpad does on Google Workspace MCP Server
AI agents use manage_scratchpad to create or update resources in Google Workspace MCP Server, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Google Workspace MCP Server environment.
Why manage_scratchpad is rated Medium
The tool creates and modifies text content (Write category) and can deliver it via email or other targets. The severity is high because an AI agent could compose and send unauthorized emails, documents, or messages to any recipient, potentially leading to phishing, impersonation, unauthorized communications, or data exfiltration.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Compose, edit, and deliver text content' and explicitly mentions 'emails, documents, descriptions' with ability to 'send to any target.' This is clearly a write/modification operation that creates and sends content.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs manage_scratchpad safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Google Workspace MCP Server, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For manage_scratchpad, this is the rule to start with:
manage_scratchpad stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Google Workspace MCP Server, apply this rule, and every manage_scratchpad call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about manage_scratchpad
Compose, edit, and deliver text content. Use for any multi-line content: emails, documents, descriptions. Compose in the scratchpad, edit by line or JSON path, attach files, then send to any target. For short one-liners, use the service tool directly instead. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Google Workspace MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Google Workspace MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for manage_scratchpad: 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 Google Workspace MCP Server. Nothing to install.
manage_scratchpad is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the manage_scratchpad 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 manage_scratchpad. 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.
manage_scratchpad is provided by the Google Workspace MCP Server MCP server (aaronsb/google-workspace-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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