Search messages in a folder by optional full-text, unseen filter, and SINCE date.
AI agents call search_emails to retrieve information from Email MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and queries email messages based on search criteria without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a pure read operation with no side effects. Severity is low because email search results pose minimal risk even if accessed inappropriately—they reveal existing data but cannot alter state or trigger external actions.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Search messages in a folder by optional full-text, unseen filter, and SINCE date.' The server description emphasizes 'Supports reading, searching, and sending emails' with searching listed as a read operation.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search messages in a folder by optional full-text, unseen filter, and SINCE date. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Email MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Email MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_emails: 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 Email MCP Server. Nothing to install.
search_emails is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_emails 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 search_emails. 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.
search_emails is provided by the Email MCP Server MCP server (minjaf/email-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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