SMTP stopped working

twistedtree
twistedtree
in SecuritySpy

I'm just getting SS working again after being down for a number of months, and I find that SMTP no longer works. When I send a test message using Explicit encryption I get Error 127045,60 unknown error. When I do the same with implicit encryption I get Error 127040,550 Sorry! This service is unable to send mail from this domain: 550. Please try sending from a domain on this server. All of this was working previously. I updated to 5.5.3 and the issue persists.

I think this is related to a change my ISP recently made to block spammers. In the DATA portion of the SMPT exchange (not the RCPT TO or MAIL FROM), there is typically, but not always, begins with

to: receipt@xyz.com

from: sender@zyx.com

Subject: SS email.

These SMTP servers now require that the From: field be a valid email address services by the SMTP server to prevent spoofing the "From:" address. It looks like SS is sending the SS System Name is the From field, so the emails are being rejected.

Is this something that can be confirmed and hopefully fixed? I have encountered a number of SMTP servers like this, and I think it's the way of the future, unfortunately.

Let me know if there is a trace or log file that I can provide, or any other info. I couls also set you up with a temp email account on this particular SMTP server to test, if you like.

Thanks,

Peter

Comments

  • Ben
    Ben

    Your diagnoses is correct that the error message indicates that the server is refusing to send the email because the domain of the "From" address is not acceptable.

    The solution is to specify a valid email address with an acceptable domain in the "From address" setting in SecuritySpy at Preferences > Email.

  • twistedtree
    twistedtree

    Unfortunately I already have that set to a valid "from" address. Still no joy.

  • Ben
    Ben

    SecuritySpy uses the "From address" that you specify for both the "From" and the "MAIL FROM" header fields when sending the email to the SMTP server. So the rejection must be a fault of the server, or using the wrong domain being used. Perhaps it's best to ask your ISP why the email could be being rejected?

  • twistedtree
    twistedtree

    Is there any way to get a trace or log of the SMTP exchange for a test message? And does "127045,60 unknown error" provide any insight?

  • Ben
    Ben

    "127045,60" is a timeout error, which indicated that the connection failed. So this tells us that Implicit is the correct SSL setting to use for this server, not Explicit. The fact that the server is replying when using the Implicit setting indicates that the connection details are correct (server address, port, SSL setting). Sorry but there is no connection log beyond what is written to the log file available from the File menu in SecuritySpy, which does include the main message from the server about what is going wrong.

  • twistedtree
    twistedtree

    I got it working, but honestly am not exactly sure how or why. It seems that including a email address in the SS 'From' Name: field is a bad thing. And you are correct that Implicit is the correct SSL setting.

    Thanks for your patience getting this working.

  • Ben
    Ben

    It's unusual to have an email address in the "From name" field as this is meant for the name of the sender, while the email address of the sender should go into the "From address" field. I'm not aware of any specific prohibitions in the SMTP specifications on using an email address in the name field, but it sounds like your server has a specific rule against this for some reason. In any case I'm glad that it's now working!

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