send_gmail_message · Google Connections MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What send_gmail_message does on Google Connections

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why send_gmail_message needs a policy

Sending an email creates a new message and triggers delivery to recipients—a reversible write operation with significant blast radius if misused by an AI agent (could spam, impersonate, or send sensitive/incorrect information to unintended recipients). Not Destructive because emails are not irreversibly deleted. Not Financial unless the email itself commits financial obligations, which is not indicated.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'send_gmail_message' and description 'Send an email via Gmail' indicate creation of new email messages. The sibling tool 'archive_gmail' and broader server description mentioning 'full CRUD operations' confirm this is a Gmail write operation.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

send_gmail_message Rate-limited

send_gmail_message 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": {
    "send_gmail_message": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "send_gmail_message_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 Google Connections, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about send_gmail_message

What does the send_gmail_message tool do? +

Send an email via Gmail. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Google Connections MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on send_gmail_message? +

Register the Google Connections MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for send_gmail_message: 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 Google Connections. Nothing to install.

What risk level is send_gmail_message? +

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

Can I rate-limit send_gmail_message? +

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

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

send_gmail_message is provided by the Google Connections MCP server (michaelzrork/google-connections-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.