gmail_get_attachment

ServerGoogle Workspace
CategoryRead

WHAT IT DOES

What gmail_get_attachment does on Google Workspace

AI agents call gmail_get_attachment to retrieve information from Google Workspace without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why gmail_get_attachment needs a policy

This tool performs a data retrieval operation only. It fetches an existing attachment from a Gmail message and returns it to the user. There are no reversible modifications (Write), code execution (Execute), data deletion (Destructive), or financial operations (Financial). The blast radius of misuse is limited to unauthorized access to email attachments, which is a confidentiality risk but not operational damage.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'gmail_get_attachment' and description states 'Download an attachment from a Gmail message.' The function retrieves and returns attachment content without modifying, creating, or deleting any data.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access gmail_get_attachment gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control gmail_get_attachment

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Google Workspace, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for gmail_get_attachment:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "gmail_get_attachment": {}
  }
}

gmail_get_attachment is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Google Workspace — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Google Workspace tools

Destructive drive_delete_comment Delete a comment from a Google Doc. Args: - file_id (string): The ID of the Google Doc Destructive sheets_clear_values Clear cell values from a specific range in a Google Spreadsheet (keeps formatting). Args: Write docs_batch_update Apply batch updates to a Google Doc (insert/update/delete text, formatting, images, tables Write docs_create_document Create a new Google Doc with an optional initial body. Args: - title (string): The titl Write sheets_append_values Append rows of data to the end of a table in a Google Spreadsheet. Args: - spreadsheet_ Write sheets_duplicate_sheet Duplicate a sheet within the same spreadsheet. Args: - spreadsheet_id (string): The ID Write drive_copy_file Create a copy of a file in Google Drive. Args: - file_id (string): The ID of the file t Write drive_create_comment Add a comment to a Google Doc. Can be anchored to specific text or unanchored. Args: -

All 34 Google Workspace tools →

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about gmail_get_attachment

What does the gmail_get_attachment tool do? +

Download an attachment from a Gmail message. Args: - message_id (string): The ID of the message containing the attachment - attachment_id (string): The ID of the attachment to download (from gmail_list_attachments) - filename (string, optional): Filename for the attachment (for display purposes) Returns: The attachment content. For images, returns the image directly. For other files, provides download info. Examples: - Download attachment: message_id=. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Google Workspace MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on gmail_get_attachment? +

Register the Google Workspace MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for gmail_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 Google Workspace. Nothing to install.

What risk level is gmail_get_attachment? +

gmail_get_attachment is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit gmail_get_attachment? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the gmail_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.

How do I block gmail_get_attachment completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for gmail_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.

What MCP server provides gmail_get_attachment? +

gmail_get_attachment is provided by the Google Workspace MCP server (everyinc/google-workspace-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Google Workspace tool call.

Start from Google Workspace, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

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34 Google Workspace tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.