send_draft · Gmail MCP Server MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What send_draft does on Gmail MCP Server

AI agents use send_draft to create or update resources in Gmail MCP Server — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Gmail MCP Server environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why send_draft needs a policy

Sending email is a write operation that creates a persistent communication record and delivers messages to recipients. While not destructive (it can theoretically be recalled or the consequences are reversible to some extent), it modifies email system state irreversibly from the sender's perspective.

From the tool's definition The tool sends an existing draft email, which creates and transmits new email messages. This modifies the state of the email system by moving a draft to sent status and delivering the message to recipients.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

send_draft Rate-limited

send_draft stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "send_draft": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "send_draft_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Gmail MCP Server, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about send_draft

What does the send_draft tool do? +

Send an existing draft email. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Gmail MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on send_draft? +

Register the Gmail MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for send_draft: 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 Gmail MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is send_draft? +

send_draft is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit send_draft? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the send_draft 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 send_draft completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for send_draft. 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 send_draft? +

send_draft is provided by the Gmail MCP Server MCP server (samarth2001/gmail-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.