Get unread counts per mailbox for one account or all accounts. When summary_only=True, returns only per-account inbox unread totals (replaces the former get_unread_count tool). Args: account: Optional account name filter include_zero: Whether to include mailboxes with zero unread messages summary...
AI agents call get_mailbox_unread_counts to retrieve information from Apple Mail MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool purely retrieves and queries email statistics—unread counts across mailboxes and accounts. It has no side effects, does not modify data, and does not execute operations. It is a straightforward read operation that fits the Read category with low severity since exposing unread counts carries minimal security risk even if misused by an AI agent.
From the tool's definition Tool name and description indicate it 'Get[s] unread counts per mailbox' and 'returns only per-account inbox unread totals'. The function retrieves email metadata (unread message counts) without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_mailbox_unread_counts gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Apple Mail MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_mailbox_unread_counts:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_mailbox_unread_counts": {}
}
}get_mailbox_unread_counts is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Get unread counts per mailbox for one account or all accounts. When summary_only=True, returns only per-account inbox unread totals (replaces the former get_unread_count tool). Args: account: Optional account name filter include_zero: Whether to include mailboxes with zero unread messages summary_only: If True, return only per-account inbox unread totals (flat dict of account name -> unread count) Returns: If summary_only=False: nested dict keyed by account name then mailbox path If summary_only=True: flat dict mapping account names to inbox unread counts. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Apple Mail MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Apple Mail MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_mailbox_unread_counts: 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 Apple Mail MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_mailbox_unread_counts 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_mailbox_unread_counts 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_mailbox_unread_counts. 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_mailbox_unread_counts is provided by the Apple Mail MCP Server MCP server (patrickfreyer/apple-mail-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 26 Apple Mail MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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26 Apple Mail MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.