AI agents call get_recent_emails 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 historical email data from the past three days. It performs a read-only query operation with no capability to modify, delete, or execute actions. Even though the server overall has Write and Execute capabilities (send_email, setup_email_account), this specific tool is limited to data retrieval. Severity is low because unauthorized access retrieves email content but cannot alter or delete messages.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_recent_emails' and description '获取最近三天的邮件列表' (Get emails from the last three days) indicate this retrieves or queries email data without modification or side effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_recent_emails gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Email MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_recent_emails:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_recent_emails": {}
}
}get_recent_emails is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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获取最近三天的邮件列表. 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 get_recent_emails: 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.
get_recent_emails 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 get_recent_emails 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 get_recent_emails. 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.
get_recent_emails is provided by the Email MCP Server MCP server (timecyber/email-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 7 Email MCP Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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7 Email MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.