Get a list of unread emails
AI agents call get_unread_emails 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 data (unread emails) without creating, modifying, deleting, executing code, or moving money. It is a straightforward read operation with minimal risk—the worst outcome of misuse is unauthorized information disclosure of existing email data, which is lower severity than tools that modify state or execute arbitrary operations.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'get_unread_emails' and description 'Get a list of unread emails' indicate a retrieval operation with no modification or side effects.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
Get a list of unread emails. 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_unread_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 Gmail MCP Server. Nothing to install.
get_unread_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_unread_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_unread_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_unread_emails 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.
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