Get a list of emails with attachments
AI agents call get_emails_with_attachments 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 queries and returns email data without modifying, deleting, or executing any operations. It is a passive information retrieval function that returns metadata about emails containing attachments. No data is created, destroyed, or modified, and no external code is executed. The risk is low as misuse would only expose existing email metadata, not enable destructive or unauthorized actions.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_emails_with_attachments' and description 'Get a list of emails with attachments' indicate a retrieval operation with no side effects. The verb 'get' and action of listing/retrieving emails are purely read operations.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get a list of emails with attachments. 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_emails_with_attachments: 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_emails_with_attachments 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_emails_with_attachments 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_emails_with_attachments. 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_emails_with_attachments 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.
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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