imap_get_email
AI agents call imap_get_email 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 retrieves email data with no stated modification or deletion capability. However, severity is elevated to 'high' rather than 'low' because emails often contain sensitive personal information, credentials, financial data, or private communications. Misuse could expose significant private data.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'imap_get_email' indicates retrieval of email data via IMAP protocol. Server description states the tool enables users to 'read, search, and send emails.' The 'get' operation is a read-only data retrieval function.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
imap_get_email. 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_get_email: 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_get_email 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_get_email 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_get_email. 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_get_email 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.
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