email_imap_unread

Fetch unread emails directly from the configured Email channel mailbox (IMAP/SMTP or LOOM mode).

SERVERCoWork OS SOURCECoWork-OS/CoWork-OS

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/cowork-os/email-imap-unread.md

WHAT IT DOES

What email_imap_unread does on CoWork OS

AI agents call email_imap_unread to retrieve information from CoWork OS without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

RISK

Why email_imap_unread is rated Low

This tool retrieves email data without side effects. It queries the mailbox state to return unread messages but does not create, modify, delete, or execute any operations. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could retrieve sensitive email content, but this is an information disclosure risk rather than a destructive or system-altering risk, making it a standard Read classification with low severity.

From the tool's definition Tool name and description indicate it 'Fetch[es] unread emails' with no modification, deletion, or execution capability. The verb 'Fetch' and the constraint to 'directly from the configured Email channel mailbox' indicate read-only retrieval.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs email_imap_unread safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and CoWork OS, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For email_imap_unread, this is the rule to start with:

email_imap_unread Allowed

email_imap_unread is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "email_imap_unread": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect CoWork OS, apply this rule, and every email_imap_unread call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about email_imap_unread

What does the email_imap_unread tool do? +

Fetch unread emails directly from the configured Email channel mailbox (IMAP/SMTP or LOOM mode). It is categorised as a Read tool in the CoWork OS MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on email_imap_unread? +

Register the CoWork OS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for email_imap_unread: 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 CoWork OS. Nothing to install.

What risk level is email_imap_unread? +

email_imap_unread is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit email_imap_unread? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the email_imap_unread 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.

How do I block email_imap_unread completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for email_imap_unread. 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.

What MCP server provides email_imap_unread? +

email_imap_unread is provided by the CoWork OS MCP server (CoWork-OS/CoWork-OS). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

KEEP EXPLORING

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