Move an email to trash
AI agents call delete_email to permanently remove resources in Gmail MCP Server — typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.
Although Gmail's trash allows recovery for ~30 days, the tool's function is to permanently remove emails from active mailbox management. This qualifies as destructive because: (1) the action cannot be undone through normal tool interaction, (2) users typically expect deleted emails to be gone, (3) mass deletion via the sibling tool 'batch_delete_emails' could cause significant data loss if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'delete_email' and description states 'Move an email to trash'. While technically recoverable from trash, this action irreversibly removes the email from the user's normal inbox and is functionally equivalent to deletion in most user workflows.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Move an email to trash. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Gmail MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.
Register the Gmail MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for delete_email: 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.
delete_email is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the delete_email 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 delete_email. 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.
delete_email is provided by the Gmail MCP Server MCP server (meyannis/mcpgmail). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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