Re: Reverse dns checking for local machine

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Author: Philip Hazel
Date:  
To: John Henders
CC: exim-users
Subject: Re: Reverse dns checking for local machine
On Thu, 21 Aug 1997, John Henders wrote:

> I know there's been discussion of the perils of validating connections
> on the basis of dns mismatch, but I think it would be a good idea if
> exim could at least be set to check on an outside machine claiming to be
> the mail host exim is running on itself. I've seen several auto-spam
> programs now that seem to be set to claim to be the machine they are
> connecting, as a sneaky way of avoiding blocking lists.


RFC 821 specifically forbids refusal of mail on the basis of what the
sending host sends in the HELO/EHLO command. However, you can get Exim
to check it. Just set the helo_verify_hosts or helo_verify_nets option.

Perhaps it should always do this if the outside host claims to be the
host Exim is running on, or one of its local domains. Idea noted.

-- 
Philip Hazel                   University Computing Service,
ph10@???             New Museums Site, Cambridge CB2 3QG,
P.Hazel@???          England.  Phone: +44 1223 334714