search_contacts

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why search_contacts needs a policy

This tool performs a read-only search operation against a contacts database. It retrieves matching contact records based on search criteria (name or email) but does not create, modify, delete, or execute any actions.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'search_contacts' and description states 'Search contacts by name or email' — a query operation that retrieves data without modification.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access search_contacts gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control search_contacts

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Fastmail MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for search_contacts:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "search_contacts": {}
  }
}

search_contacts is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Fastmail MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about search_contacts

What does the search_contacts tool do? +

Search contacts by name or email. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Fastmail MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on search_contacts? +

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

What risk level is search_contacts? +

search_contacts is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit search_contacts? +

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

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

search_contacts is provided by the Fastmail MCP Server MCP server (madllama25/fastmail-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Fastmail MCP Server tool call.

Start from Fastmail MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →