Search emails using the modern search API.
AI agents call search_emails 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.
The search_emails tool performs information retrieval only. It queries existing email data and returns results without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. This is a read-only action with no side effects, making it the lowest risk category. Severity is low because misuse would only expose information the agent already has access to, not cause irreversible damage or financial impact.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_emails' and description 'Search emails using the modern search API' indicate a query operation that retrieves email data without modification or deletion.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Search emails using the modern search API. 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 search_emails: 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.
search_emails 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_emails 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_emails. 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_emails 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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