Download an email attachment by message ID and attachment ID. Returns base64-encoded content with metadata. Use get_email first to find attachment IDs.
AI agents call get_attachment 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 retrieves and returns attachment content without modifying, creating, or deleting data, placing it in the Read category. Severity is medium rather than low because downloaded attachments may contain highly sensitive information that could be misused if an AI agent accesses attachments without proper authorization context.
From the tool's definition Tool description: 'Download an email attachment by message ID and attachment ID. Returns base64-encoded content with metadata.' The verb 'Download' and 'Returns' indicate retrieval of data with no modification or deletion.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Download an email attachment by message ID and attachment ID. Returns base64-encoded content with metadata. Use get_email first to find attachment IDs. 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 get_attachment: 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.
get_attachment 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 get_attachment 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 get_attachment. 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.
get_attachment is provided by the Gmail MCP Server MCP server (neutral-stage/gmail-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
get_attachment is one line of Gmail MCP Server's registry record.
The record carries the whole server: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, every tool classified, recommended policy — re-checked continuously.
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