search_messages
AI agents call search_messages to retrieve information from MCP Agent Mail without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves or queries existing messages from the coordination layer's searchable history. It has no side effects, does not modify data, and does not execute external operations. It fits the Read category as a data retrieval function. Severity is low because searching messages in a coordination system poses minimal risk even if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_messages' indicates a search/query operation over message history. The server description emphasizes 'searchable history' as a core feature.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
search_messages. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Agent Mail MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the MCP Agent Mail MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_messages: 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 MCP Agent Mail. Nothing to install.
search_messages 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_messages 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_messages. 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_messages is provided by the MCP Agent Mail MCP server (omelchmichael/mcp_agent_mail). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Every MCP server has a record like this.
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