Get status information about a folder.
AI agents call imap_folder_status to retrieve information from Email MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and retrieves folder status information from an email account. It has no capability to modify, delete, or execute operations—it only returns existing data. This is a classic Read operation with minimal risk, assuming the user is authorized to access their own email account.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'imap_folder_status' and description 'Get status information about a folder' indicate retrieval of metadata without modification or execution.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get status information about a folder. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Email MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Email MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for imap_folder_status: 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 Email MCP Server. Nothing to install.
imap_folder_status 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 imap_folder_status 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 imap_folder_status. 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.
imap_folder_status is provided by the Email MCP Server MCP server (sventern/mcp_email). 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.
Teams ship this data inside their own products. See what a licence covers →