create_draft · Gmail MCP Server MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What create_draft does on Gmail MCP Server

AI agents use create_draft to create or update resources in Gmail MCP Server — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Gmail MCP Server environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why create_draft needs a policy

create_draft composes and stores a new email message without sending it, which is a reversible modification (drafts can be discarded or edited). This is a classic Write operation. Severity is low because drafts have no external effect until explicitly sent by a user, and the impact is limited to the user's own mailbox.

From the tool's definition Tool explicitly described as 'Create a new email draft' and emphasized as 'safer alternative to send_email'. The tool creates but does not send, making it a reversible write operation.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

create_draft Rate-limited

create_draft 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "create_draft": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "create_draft_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Gmail MCP Server, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about create_draft

What does the create_draft tool do? +

Create a new email draft (safer alternative to send_email). For replies to existing emails, consider using find_and_draft_reply instead. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Gmail MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on create_draft? +

Register the Gmail MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for create_draft: 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 Gmail MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is create_draft? +

create_draft is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit create_draft? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the create_draft 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 create_draft completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for create_draft. 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 create_draft? +

create_draft is provided by the Gmail MCP Server MCP server (javiezpeleta/gmail-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.