Search messages across all channels in the Slack workspace. Requires user authorization (search:read scope). Supports Slack search modifiers: - from:@username — Messages from a specific user - in:#channel — Messages in a specific channel - before:YYYY-MM-DD / after:YYYY-MM-DD — Date filters - has...
AI agents call search_slack_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 tool retrieves and queries Slack message data with no side effects. It matches the Read category definition: retrieves or queries data without modifying, deleting, or executing external operations. The low severity reflects that while it accesses potentially sensitive message content, it requires proper authorization and does not alter data or trigger secondary effects.
From the tool's definition Tool name and description: 'Search messages across all channels in the Slack workspace.' Supports query filters (from, in, before, after, has) but explicitly requires 'search:read scope' indicating read-only access.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_slack_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 search_slack_messages:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"search_slack_messages": {}
}
}search_slack_messages is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Search messages across all channels in the Slack workspace. Requires user authorization (search:read scope). Supports Slack search modifiers: - from:@username — Messages from a specific user - in:#channel — Messages in a specific channel - before:YYYY-MM-DD / after:YYYY-MM-DD — Date filters - has:link / has:reaction — Content filters Set to_me=true to prepend. 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 search_slack_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.
search_slack_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 search_slack_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 search_slack_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.
search_slack_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.