archive_email · Gmail MCP Server MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What archive_email does on Gmail MCP Server

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

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why archive_email needs a policy

Archiving is a Write operation because it modifies email metadata/folder state reversibly without destroying data. Unlike delete_email (Destructive), archived emails remain accessible in other labels/folders and can be restored. Severity is medium because misuse could hide important emails from an inbox (disrupting workflow or hiding urgent messages), but the action is not destructive or financially consequential.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Archive (remove from INBOX) an email by ID' — this modifies the state of an email by moving it out of the inbox, a reversible action.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

archive_email Rate-limited

archive_email 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": {
    "archive_email": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "archive_email_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 Gmail MCP Server, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about archive_email

What does the archive_email tool do? +

Archive (remove from INBOX) an email by ID (requires OAuth2 config). It is categorised as a Write tool in the Gmail MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on archive_email? +

Register the Gmail MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for archive_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.

What risk level is archive_email? +

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

Can I rate-limit archive_email? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the archive_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.

How do I block archive_email completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for archive_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.

What MCP server provides archive_email? +

archive_email is provided by the Gmail MCP Server MCP server (nasirhuss86/gmail-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.