Download email attachment to a specified file path
AI agents call get_attachment to retrieve information from Microsoft MCP without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves (downloads) an email attachment, which is a read operation with no side effects. No data is created, modified, deleted, or destroyed. The user is simply accessing and obtaining an existing email attachment. While downloads can theoretically be misused to exfiltrate sensitive data, the tool itself performs a retrieval operation characteristic of the Read category.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'get_attachment' and description states 'Download email attachment to a specified file path'. The verb 'download' and the action of retrieving an attachment are read operations that retrieve data without modification.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Download email attachment to a specified file path. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Microsoft MCP MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Microsoft 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 Microsoft MCP. 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 Microsoft MCP server (purva-kashyap/microsoft-mcp). 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.
Type a name, get the same breakdown: verified identity, auth posture, risk grade, capabilities, recommended policy.
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