Get a summary of unread emails in one specific category. Returns email count and list of emails matching that category.
AI agents call gmail_category_summary to retrieve information from Gmail MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool only retrieves and queries email data without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It returns summaries and listings of existing emails, which are classic read operations with no side effects or data mutations.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it "Get[s] a summary of unread emails in one specific category" and "Returns email count and list of emails matching that category." The server description emphasizes "read-only access to your inbox."
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get a summary of unread emails in one specific category. Returns email count and list of emails matching that category. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Gmail MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Gmail MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for gmail_category_summary: 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.
gmail_category_summary 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 gmail_category_summary 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 gmail_category_summary. 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.
gmail_category_summary is provided by the Gmail MCP Server MCP server (murphy360/mcp_gmail). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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