AI agents use update_auto_forwarding to create or update resources in Gmail MCP — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Gmail MCP environment.
This tool modifies email forwarding settings, which is a Write operation (updates/modifies configuration reversibly). Severity is high because misconfiguration could redirect all incoming emails to an attacker's address, enabling email interception and account compromise, though the action itself is reversible if detected. Confidence is high given the clear functional intent of the tool name and description.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'update_auto_forwarding' and description 'Updates automatic forwarding settings' indicate modification of email forwarding configuration, a reversible write operation that changes email routing behavior.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access update_auto_forwarding gives an agent:
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 update_auto_forwarding:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"update_auto_forwarding": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "update_auto_forwarding_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}update_auto_forwarding 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.
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Updates automatic forwarding settings. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Gmail MCP MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Gmail MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for update_auto_forwarding: 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.
update_auto_forwarding is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the update_auto_forwarding 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 update_auto_forwarding. 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.
update_auto_forwarding 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.
Deterministic rules across all 65 Gmail MCP tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
65 Gmail MCP tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.