Get unread messages in a channel based on your read position. Requires user authorization. Bot-only connections cannot track unread state. For private channels/DMs, set include_private=true (default false for safety). Returns most-recent-unread-first.
AI agents call get_slack_unread_messages to retrieve information from Apple Shortcuts without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This is a read-only data retrieval operation that queries Slack for unread messages. It requires authorization and has safety considerations (private channel access control), but performs no write, execute, destructive, or financial operations. The blast radius of misuse is low—an unauthorized agent could access unread messages in authorized channels, but cannot modify, delete, or take actions on those messages.
From the tool's definition Tool name and description indicate it 'Get unread messages in a channel' with no modification, deletion, or execution capabilities. Returns data only ('most-recent-unread-first'). No side effects or state changes mentioned.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_slack_unread_messages gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Apple Shortcuts, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_slack_unread_messages:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_slack_unread_messages": {}
}
}get_slack_unread_messages is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get unread messages in a channel based on your read position. Requires user authorization. Bot-only connections cannot track unread state. For private channels/DMs, set include_private=true (default false for safety). Returns most-recent-unread-first. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Apple Shortcuts MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Apple Shortcuts MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_slack_unread_messages: 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 Apple Shortcuts. Nothing to install.
get_slack_unread_messages 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 get_slack_unread_messages 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 get_slack_unread_messages. 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.
get_slack_unread_messages is provided by the Apple Shortcuts MCP server (@mindstone/mcp-server-apple-shortcuts). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Apple Shortcuts, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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423 Apple Shortcuts tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.