List mail folders (Inbox, Sent, Drafts, etc.). Returns folder IDs that can be used with list_emails and move_email.
AI agents call list_folders 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 tool retrieves folder information from the mail system without modifying, deleting, or executing operations. It is purely informational and returns folder identifiers for reference by downstream tools. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an agent could discover mail folder structure but cannot alter data or trigger external actions.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states 'List mail folders' and returns folder IDs for use by other tools. The verb 'list' and the scope (querying folder metadata) indicate data retrieval with no side effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access list_folders 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 list_folders:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"list_folders": {}
}
}list_folders is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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List mail folders (Inbox, Sent, Drafts, etc.). Returns folder IDs that can be used with list_emails and move_email. 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 list_folders: 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.
list_folders 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_folders 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_folders. 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_folders 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.