mail_move · MCP Apple Mail MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What mail_move does on MCP Apple Mail

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why mail_move needs a policy

Moving emails between mailboxes modifies email metadata and organization state reversibly. It is not destructive (deletion is handled by mail_delete), not execute (no arbitrary code execution), not financial. It qualifies as Write because it alters data state.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'mail_move' and description 'Move emails to a different mailbox' indicate modifying email location/state. This is a reversible operation (emails can be moved back), distinct from deletion.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

mail_move Rate-limited

mail_move 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": {
    "mail_move": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "mail_move_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 MCP Apple Mail, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about mail_move

What does the mail_move tool do? +

Move emails to a different mailbox. It is categorised as a Write tool in the MCP Apple Mail MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on mail_move? +

Register the MCP Apple Mail MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for mail_move: 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 MCP Apple Mail. Nothing to install.

What risk level is mail_move? +

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

Can I rate-limit mail_move? +

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

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

mail_move is provided by the MCP Apple Mail MCP server (lionsr/mcp-apple). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.