delete_forwarding_address

THE RISK

Critical Risk

This tool permanently removes an email forwarding rule from a Gmail account. Deletion of forwarding addresses is an irreversible action that cannot be easily undone and can disrupt email delivery workflows. While not as critical as deleting messages themselves, it permanently modifies account configuration.

From the tool's definition Tool name is 'delete_forwarding_address' and description states 'Deletes the specified forwarding address'. The verb 'deletes' combined with the irreversible nature of removing email forwarding configuration qualifies this as destructive.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access delete_forwarding_address gives an agent:

HOW TO CONTROL DELETE_FORWARDING_ADDRESS

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Gmail MCP, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for delete_forwarding_address:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "delete_forwarding_address"
  ]
}

delete_forwarding_address disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.

Create a free account and register Gmail MCP — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

RESTRICT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

More Gmail MCP tools

Destructive batch_delete_messages Delete multiple messages Destructive delete_draft Delete a draft Destructive delete_filter Deletes a filter Destructive delete_label Delete a label Destructive delete_message Immediately and permanently delete a message Destructive delete_send_as Deletes the specified send-as alias Destructive delete_smime_info Deletes the specified S/MIME config for the specified send-as alias Destructive delete_thread Delete a thread

All 65 Gmail MCP tools →

Destructive tools on other servers

Frida Game Hacking MCP clear_scan MegaMemory remove_concept Frida Agent MCP kill_app 1MCP Server mcp_uninstall

Go deeper

Critical-risk tools in Gmail MCP → Every critical-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All critical-risk MCP tools → Every critical-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

What does the delete_forwarding_address tool do? +

Deletes the specified forwarding address. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Gmail MCP MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.

How do I enforce a policy on delete_forwarding_address? +

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

What risk level is delete_forwarding_address? +

delete_forwarding_address is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.

Can I rate-limit delete_forwarding_address? +

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

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

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

Enforce policy on every Gmail MCP tool call.

Deterministic rules across all 65 Gmail MCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.

GOVERN GMAIL →

Free to start. No card required.

65 Gmail MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.

// WHAT DELETE_FORWARDING_ADDRESS ON GMAIL MCP DOES

// THE RISK

// HOW TO CONTROL DELETE_FORWARDING_ADDRESS

// EXPLORE