Very simply don't think it would work - requiring the mail to be SENT from
the server that is used to RECEIVE mail for a domain is not part of any spec
I am aware of - in fact many people I know including myself separate sending
functions from receiving functions - not to mention the confusing caused
when servers like courier which virtual host send mail for hundreds of
domains from a single IP (with a single reverse lookup).

IF you could implement this, you would only end up rejecting mail that you
probably want, and wouldn't fix the fact that other people are abusing your
domain elsewhere cause you can't make them run your MTA of choice.

In a perfect world, better security would be built into a lot of protocols -
it's shoe-horning it into them after they are in use that's a challenge.

m/

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 2:42 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [courier-users] Email hijacking


After having email addresses in my domains hijacked (both users that exist
& those that don't) left, right, and center I can't take it anymore!
Is it possible/insane to have esmtpd (& any other MTA) do a reverse
DNS check on the MAIL FROM address to ensure that the domain specified
there match the domain of the sending machine?
I don't care if it takes a couple extra seconds to do that check, endless
email hijacking is totally ridiculous & HAS to stop.  I'm stick of
seeing zillions of bounces from spam emails no one in my domain ever sent.
SO someone please tell me what's so horrible about:

1. client connects & sends MAIL FROM address
2. server reverse DNSs the client's IP
3. if the domain doesn't match the domain in the FROM address or
    the IP is not resolvable the email is rejected

OR

1. client connects & sends MAIL FROM address
2. server DNSs the MX record for the domain in the FROM address
3. if the IP of client does NOT match one of the MX records for that domain
    the email is rejected.
    If domains want to allow other machines than their mail servers to be
able
    to send emails using their domain they can add them with a very high MX
    priority so they never actually get used as a mail server BUT do show
    as legtimate sources of mail traffic for that domain


of course everyone across the internet would have to do this BUT if they DID
then we REALLY cut down on spam - & virtually totally eliminate email
hijacking.

Again who really cares about the extra 1 second or so the DNS lookups will
take - & of course most likely they're cached locally anyway after the
first hit.

Currently our mail infrastructure is setup to first accept and THEN see
if there's something wrong with the message - HOWEVER with the tidal wave
of spam that now is more numerous than legit email this paradigm needs to
be switched:  email should first be REJECTED UNLESS there's compelling
reasons to be accepted...

Of course these same checks could also be done the 'From:' &  'Reply-To:'
headers - which I also think is a good idea but requires more intervention
& maybe someone has a problem with looking into the headers BUT with
spam being WAY out of control we gotta take more serious steps to stem the
tide.

whatcha'll think?
    Mark


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