mail_folders

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why mail_folders needs a policy

This tool queries and returns mailbox folder/label information without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a passive read operation with minimal security impact. Even if an AI agent misuses it, the worst outcome is exposure of folder names/structure, which is low-risk metadata.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'mail_folders' and description states 'List all folders/labels in the mailbox' — a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects.

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

POLICY

How to control mail_folders

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

policy.json

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

mail_folders 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 Shellgate — 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

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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 →
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FAQ

Questions about mail_folders

What does the mail_folders tool do? +

List all folders/labels in the mailbox. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Shellgate MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on mail_folders? +

Register the Shellgate MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for mail_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 Shellgate. Nothing to install.

What risk level is mail_folders? +

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

Can I rate-limit mail_folders? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the mail_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.

How do I block mail_folders completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for mail_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.

What MCP server provides mail_folders? +

mail_folders is provided by the Shellgate MCP server (matthiastjong/shellgate). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Shellgate tool call.

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

CHECK YOUR STACK →