Get all Gmail labels (folders)
AI agents call get_email_labels to retrieve information from Gmail 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 metadata about Gmail label organization. It has no side effects, does not create, modify, or delete data, and does not execute code or trigger external operations. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an attacker could discover label names and structure but cannot access email content, send emails, or modify account state. Severity is low because label enumeration poses minimal risk.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Get all Gmail labels (folders)' — a pure retrieval operation with no modification, deletion, or execution. The verb 'Get' and the context of listing labels confirms this is a read-only query.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get all Gmail labels (folders). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Gmail MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Gmail MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_email_labels: 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 Server. Nothing to install.
get_email_labels 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_email_labels 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_email_labels. 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_email_labels is provided by the Gmail MCP Server MCP server (xiangwanggithub/gmail-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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