Provided by: postfix-policyd-spf-python_2.0.2-1_all 
NAME
policyd-spf - policyd-spf python configuration parameters
VERSION
2.0.0
USAGE
Usage:
policyd-spf [/etc/postfix-policyd-spf-python/policyd-spf.conf]
OTHER DOCUMENTATION
This documentation assumes you have read Postfix's README_FILES/ SMTPD_POLICY_README and
are generally familiar with Sender Policy Framework (SPF). See RFC 7208 for details.
man 1 policyd-spf provides general operation documentation for this package.
man 5 policyd-spf.peruser provides documentation on setting up and using different
configuration options on a per user (mail reciepient) basis.
SYNOPSIS
python-policyd-spf operates with a default installed configuration file and set of default
configuration options that are used if the configuration file cannot be found. These
options can be changed by changing the installed configuration files or through giving a
path to an alternate configuration file.
DESCRIPTION
Configuration options are described here and in the configuration file provided with the
package. The provided setup.py installs this configuration file in /etc/postfix-policyd-
spf-python/.
Additionally, whitelisting certain IP addresses from SPF checks is supported. This man
page and the sample configuration file show the format to use. These options can be
adjusted on a per user (mail recipient) basis. Details on per user settings can be found
in policyd-spf.peruser(5).
OPTIONS
LOGGING
"debugLevel" controls the amount of information logged by the policy server.
The default, 1, logs no debugging messages, just basic policy results and errors generated
through the policy server. This value can be increased up to 5 (values higher than 5 will
not cause an error, but will not log any additional information).
debug level 2 adds a log message if no client address (IP address from which the
connection was made), Mail From address, or HELO/EHLO name is received by the policy
server, and logs SPF results for each Mail From and HELO check.
debug level 3 generates a log message each time the policy server starts and each time it
exits, as well as logging a copy of the exact header returned to Postfix to be prepended
into the message. Each time the policy server starts, debug level 3 also logs the
configuration information used by the policy server.
debug level 4 logs the complete data set received by Postfix via the policy interface and
when the end of the entry is read.
debug level 5 is used to debug config file processing and, for this purpose, can only be
set in code and not via the config file. It also provides additional internal status
details generally of interest only to developers.
If debug level is 0, then the policy server logs errors only.
When set to -1, nothing is logged once the configuration file has been read in, not even
error messages. Use with caution.
Default:
debugLevel = 1
TEST OPERATION
The policy server can operate in a test only mode. This allows you to see the potential
impact of SPF checking in your mail logs without rejecting mail. Headers are prepended in
messages, but message delivery is not affected. This mode is not enabled by default. To
enable it, set TestOnly = 0.
Note: This option was previously named defaultSeedOnly. This is still accepted, but logs
an error.
Default:
TestOnly = 1
HELO/EHLO CHECKING
HELO check rejection policy options are:
Fail - (Default) Reject only on HELO Fail. HELO/EHLO is known first in the SMTP dialogue
and there is no practical reason to waste resources on Mail From checks if the HELO check
will already cause the message to be rejected. This should not cause interoperability
problems when used for HELO.
SPF_Not_Pass - Reject if result not Pass, None, or Temperror (alternatively put, reject if
the SPF result is Fail, Softfail, Neutral, PermError). Unlike Mail From checking, there
are no standard e-mail use cases where a HELO check should not Pass if there is an SPF
record for the HELO name (transparent forwarding, for example, is not an issue). HELO/EHLO
is known first in the SMTP dialogue and there is no practical reason to waste resources on
Mail From checks if the HELO check will already cause the message to be rejected. This is
not consistent with the RFC 7208 requirement to treat none and neutral the same, but
should not cause interoperability problems when used for HELO.
Softfail - Reject on HELO Softfail or Fail. HELO/EHLO is known first in the SMTP dialogue
and there is no practical reason to waste resources on Mail From checks if the HELO check
will already cause the message to be rejected. This should not cause interoperability
problems when used for HELO.
Null - Only reject HELO Fail for Null sender (SPF Classic). This is the approach used by
the pre-RFC 4408 reference implementation and many of the pre- RFC specifications. Use of
at least this option (SPF_Not_Pass or Fail) are preferred) is highly recommended.
False - Never reject on HELO, append header only. This is useful for post-SMTP spam
filters such as SpamAssassin.
No_Check - Never check HELO. This is only recommended if you are calling the policy
server twice (once for HELO checks and once for Mail From) with two different
configuration files. This approach is useful to get both the HELO and Mail From headers
prepended to a message.
Default:
HELO_reject = Fail
HELO/EHLO PASS RESTRICTION
HELO Pass Restriction allows integration with other Postfix access controls by provding a
user supplied name of a postfix access restriction to be applied to a message when the
HELO checking result is Pass. The indicated restriction must be an action as defined for
a Postfix SMTP server access table access(5) and explained in the Postfix RESTRICTION
CLASS README. The README.per_user_whitelisting file provided with this distribution
provides examples. Note: A helo pass restriction will be the returned result even if the
mail from result would cause the message to be rejected.
Example:
HELO_pass_restriction = helo_passed_spf
Default:
None
Mail From CHECKING
Mail From rejection policy options are:
SPF_Not_Pass - Reject if result not Pass/None/Tempfail. This option is not RFC 7208
compliant since the mail with an SPF Neutral result is treated differently than mail with
no SPF record and Softfail results are not supposed to cause mail rejection. Global use
of this option is not recommended. Use per-domain if needed (per-domain usage described
below).
Softfail - Reject on Mail From Softfail or Fail. Global use of this option is not
recommended. Use per-domain if needed (per-domain usage described below).
Fail (default) - Reject on Mail From Fail.
False - Never reject on Mail From, append header only. This is useful for post-SMTP spam
filters such as SpamAssassin.
No_Check - Never check Mail From/Return Path. This is only recommended if you are calling
the policy server twice (once for HELO checks and once for Mail From) with two different
configuration files. This approach is useful to get both the HELO and Mail From headers
prepended to a message. It could also be used to do HELO checking only (because HELO
checking has a lower false positive risk than Mail From checking), but this approach may
not be fully RFC 7208 compliant since the Mail From identity is mandatory if HELO checking
does not reach a definitive result.
Default:
Mail_From_reject = Fail
Mail From PASS RESTRICTION
Mail From Pass Restriction allows integration with other Postfix access contlols by
provding a user supplied name of a postfix access restriction to be applied to a message
when the Mail From checking result is Pass. The indicated restriction must be an action
as defined for a Postfix SMTP server access table access(5) and explained in the Postfix
RESTRICTION CLASS README. The README.per_user_whitelisting file provided with this
distribution provides examples. Note: A mail from pass restriction will be the returned
result even if the helo result would cause the message to be rejected.
Example:
Mail_From_pass_restriction = mfrom_passed_spf
Default:
None
Limit Rejections To Domains That Send No Mail
No_Mail - Only reject when SPF indicates the host/domain sends no mail. This option will
only cause mail to be rejected if the HELO/Mail From record is "v=spf1 -all". This option
is useful for rejecting mail in situations where the tolerance for rejecting wanted mail
is very low. It operates on both HELO and Mail From identities if set.
Default:
No_Mail = False
Domain Specific Receiver Policy
Using this option, a list of domains can be defined for special processing when messages
do not Pass SPF. This can be useful for commonly spoofed domains that are not yet
publishing SPF records with -all. Specifically, if mail from a domain in this list has a
Neutral/Softfail result, it will be rejected (as if it had a Fail result). If needed, it
is better to do it on a per-domain basis rather than globally.
Example:
Reject_Not_Pass_Domains = aol.com,hotmail.com
Default:
None
Permanent Error Processing
Policy for rejecting due to SPF PermError options are:
True - Reject the message if the SPF result (for HELO or Mail From) is PermError. This
has a higher short-term false positive risk, but does result in senders getting feedback
that they have a problem with their SPF record.
False - Treat PermError the same as no SPF record at all. This is consistet with the pre-
RFC usage (the pre-RFC name for this error was "Unknown").
This is a global option that affects both HELO and Mail From scopes when checks for that
scope are enabled. The only per scope setting that can over-ride this is
Mail_From/HELO_reject = False/
Default:
PermError_reject = False
Temporary Error Processing
Policy for deferring messages due to SPF TempError options are:
True - Defer the message if the SPF result (for HELO or Mail From) is TempError. This is
the traditional usage and has proven useful in reducing acceptance of unwanted messages.
Sometimes spam senders do not retry. Sometimes by the time a message is retried the
sending IP has made it onto a DNS RBL and can then be rejected. This is not the default
because it is possible for some DNS errors that are classified as "Temporary" per RFC 7208
to be permanent in the sense that they require operator intervention to correct.
This is a global option that affects both HELO and Mail From scopes when checks for that
scope are enabled. The only per scope setting that can over-ride this is
Mail_From/HELO_reject = False/
False - Treat TempError the same as no SPF record at all. This is the default to minimize
false positive risk.
Default:
TempError_Defer = False
Prospective SPF Check
Prospective SPF checking - Check to see if mail sent from the defined IP address would
pass. This is useful for outbound MTAs to avoid sending mail that would Fail SPF checks
when received. Disable HELO checking when using this option. It's only potentially
useful for Mail From checking. SPF Received headers are not added when this option is
used.
Prospective = 192.168.0.4
Default:
None
LOCAL SPF BYPASS LIST
Do not check SPF for localhost addresses - add to skip addresses to skip SPF for internal
networks if desired. Defaults are standard IPv4 and IPv6 localhost addresses. This can
also be used, to allow mail from local clients submitting mail to an MTA also acting as a
Mail Submission Agent (MSA) to be skipped. An x-header is prepended indicating SPF checks
were skipped due to a local address. This is a trace header only. Note the lack of
spaces in the list.
Default:
skip_addresses = 127.0.0.0/8,::ffff:127.0.0.0/104,::1
SPF IP WHITELIST
A comma separated CIDR Notation list of IP addresses to skip SPF checks for. Use this
list to whitelist trusted relays (such as a secondary MX and trusted forwarders). An x-
header is prepended indicating the IP was whitelisted against SPF checks. This is a trace
header only. Note the lack of spaces in the list.
Example:
Whitelist = 192.168.0.0/31,192.168.1.0/30
Default:
None
SPF HELO WHITELIST
A comma separated HELO/EHLO host names to skip SPF checks for. Use this list to whitelist
trusted relays (such as a secondary MX and trusted forwarders) or to work around a host
with a buggy SPF record. An x-header is prepended indicating the host was whitelisted
against SPF checks. This is a trace header only. Note the lack of spaces in the list.
This option includes a check to ensure the connect IP address is referenced in an A or
AAAA record by the HELO/EHLO domain that is whitelisted. This is to avoid inadvertent
bypass of SPF checks if HELO/EHLO names are forged. If a HELO/EHLO domain is unable to
pass such a forward IP address match check, then use an SPF IP Whitelist for the host's IP
address instead.
Example:
HELO_Whitelist = relay.example.com,sender.example.org
Default:
None
SPF DOMAIN WHITELIST
Domain_Whitelist: List of domains whose sending IPs should be whitelisted from SPF checks.
Use this to list trusted forwarders by domain name. Client IP addresses are tested
against SPF records published by the listed domains. This is useful for large forwarders
with complex outbound infrastructures and SPF records. This option is less scalable than
the SPF IP Whitelist. An x-header is prepended indicating the IP was whitelisted against
SPF checks. This is a trace header only. This option does nothing if the domain does not
have an SPF record. In this case use the SPF IP Whitelist described above or
Domain_Whitelist_PTR (below). Note the lack of spaces in the list.
Example:
Domain_Whitelist = pobox.com,trustedforwarder.org
Default:
None
PTR DOMAIN WHITELIST
Domain_Whitelist_PTR: List of domains (and subdomains) whose sending IPs should be
whitelisted from SPF checks based on PTR match of the domain. Use this to list trusted
forwarders by domain name if they do not publish SPF records. Client IP addresses PTR
names are tested to see if they match the listed domains. This is useful for large
forwarders with complex outbound infrastructures, but no SPF records and predictable host
naming. Matching is done using the same rules as the SPF PTR mechanism as described in RFC
7208. List the parent domain and all subdomains will match. This option is less scalable
than the SPF IP Whitelist. An x-header is prepended indicating the IP was whitelisted
against SPF checks. This is a trace header only. This option does nothing if the host
does not have a PTR record record. In this case use the SPF IP Whitelist described above.
Note the lack of spaces in the list.
Example:
Domain_Whitelist_PTR = yahoo.com,yahoogroups.com
Default:
None
SPF ENHANCED STATUS CODES
By default, Postfix will use the 4/5.7.1 enhanced status code for defer/reject actions
from the policy server (originally defined in RFC 1893, RFC 3463 is the current
reference). New email authentication (including SPF) specific codes were defined in RFC
7372. The policy server now overrides the Postfix enhanced status codes to use the RFC
7372 values. This can be disabled by setting this option to "No" in the event of
interoperability issues.
Example:
SPF_Enhanced_Status_Codes = No
Default:
Yes
RESULTS HEADER
The standard method for documenting SPF results in a message (for consumption by
downstream processes) is the Received-SPF header defined in RFC 7208. This is the default
header to use. Results can also be documented in the Authentication-Results header, which
is also covered in RFC 7208. The default is Received-SPF (SPF), but inclusion of
Authentication-Results (AR) headers as an alternative to Received-SPF can be specified.
If there is a requirement to prepend both Received-SPF and Authentication- Results
headers, then it must be done by processing the message with more than one instance of the
policy server using different configuration files with different Header_Type settings.
For no header at all, use Header_Type = None.
Examples:
Header_Type = SPF or Header_Type = AR
Default:
SPF
HIDE RCPT TO IN RESULTS HEADER
Both Received-SPF and Authentication-Results (AR) header fields include the receiving
(RCPT TO) address. In this application, it will always be the first recipient sent by the
sending MTA, even if that recipient is a BCC recipient. This is unavoidable as the
Postfix policy interface does not provide any indication that if the recipient is BCC or
not (this information is not available in until after SMTP DATA in the body of the
message). This presents a possible avenue for a privacy breach.
In order to avoid this, Hide_Receiver is set to Yes by default in the interest of
maximizing privacy. This setting will replace the actual recipient with <UNKNOWN> both in
header fields and SMTP responses. The latter may make it more difficult for senders to
troubleshoot issues with their SPF deployments. As an implementation detail, currently
specifying any value other than No will result in the recipient being hidden, but that may
change in the future.
Examples:
Hide_Receiver = Yes or Hide_Receiver = No
Default:
True
Authentications Results Authentication Identifier
Every Authentication-Results header field has an authentication identifier field
('Authserv_Id'). This is similar in syntax to a fully-qualified domain name. See policyd-
spf.conf.5 and RFC 7001 paragraph 2.4 for details. Default is HOSTNAME. The results of
socket.gethostname will be used unless an alternate value is specified. An Authserv-Id
must be provided if Header_Type 'AR' is used.
The authentication identifier field provides a unique identifier that refers to the
authenticating service within a given administrative domain. The identifier MUST be unique
to that domain. This identifier is intended to be machine-readable and not necessarily
meaningful to users.
Example:
Authserv_Id = mx.example.com
Default:
HOSTNAME
DNS Timeout Limit
RFC 7208 recommends an elapsed time limit for SPF checks of at least 20 seconds.
Lookup_Time allows the maximum time (seconds) to be adjusted. 20 seconds is the default.
This limit is applied separately to Mail From and HELO/EHLO checks, so if both are
performed, the lookups may take up to twice Lookup_Time (plus any additional time required
for whitelisting related DNS lookups).
Example:
Lookup_Time = 20
Default
20 (seconds)
Whitelist DNS Timeout Limit
Some of the available whitelisting mechanisms, i.e. Domain_Whitelist,
Domain_Whitelist_PTR, and HELO_Whitelist, require specific non-SPF DNS lookups to
determine if a connection should be white listed from SPF checks. The maximum amount of
time (in seconds) allocated for each of these checks, when used (none are enabled by
default), is controlled by the Whitelist_Lookup_Time parameter. It defaults to 10 seconds
and is applied independently to each whitelisting method in use (e.g. if both a
Domain_Whitelist_PTR and HELO_Whitelist are defined, together they may take up to 20
seconds). This is in addition to the time allowed for SPF Lookup_Time.
Example:
Whitelist_Lookup_Time = 10
Default
10 (seconds)
DNS Void Lookup Limit
RFC 7208 adds a new processing limit called "void lookup limit" (See section 4.6.4). Void
lookups are DNS queries within an SPF record for which DNS queries return either a
positive answer (RCODE 0) with an answer count of 0, or a "Name Error" (RCODE 3) answer.
This should not need to be changed. Although new in an RFC in RFC 7208, this limit has
been widely deployed in the Mail::SPF perl library without issue. Default is 2, but it
can be adjusted.
Example:
Void_Limit = 2
Default
2
Mock SPF Check To Add Milter Compatibility Header Field
In some versions of postfix, for bizarre Sendmail compatibility reasons, the first header
field added by a policy server is not visible to milters. To make this easy to work
around, set the Mock value to true and a fixed header field will be inserted so the actual
SPF check will be the second field and visible to milters such as DMARC milter.
To use this feature requires additional postfix configuration to execute the second, mock,
instance of the policy server:
Add a second service to /etc/postfix/master.cf:
policyd-spf-mock unix - n n - 0 spawn
user=nobody argv=/usr/bin/policyd-spf '/etc/pypolicyd-spf/mock
Configure the Postfix additional policy service in /etc/postfix/main.cf to run before the
regular service:
smtpd_recipient_restrictions =
...
reject_unauth_destination
check_policy_service unix:private/policyd-spf-mock
check_policy_service unix:private/policyd-spf
...
Create the specified configuration file in the location indicated with Mock set to True.
Example:
Mock = True
Default
False
Reason Message
If a message is rejected or deferred because of the SPF policy, a reason is given for
logging and debugging purposes. The String configured supports the following format
specifiers:
rejectdefer - either the string 'rejected' or 'deferred'
spf - SPF result code
url - Parameterized URL to http://www.openspf.net/ explaining SPF
Example:
Reason_Message = Message {rejectdefer} due to: {spf}.
Default:
Reason_Message = Message {rejectdefer} due to: {spf}. Please see {url}
SEE ALSO
man 1 policyd-spf, man 5 policyd-spf.peruser, python-spf, <http://www.openspf.net>, RFC
7208, RFC 7001, RFC 7372
AUTHORS
This version of policyd-spf was written by Copyright © 2007-2016, Scott Kitterman
<scott@kitterman.com>. It is derived from Tumgreyspf, written by Sean Reifschneider,
tummy.com, ltd <jafo@tummy.com>. Portions of the documentation were written by Meng Weng
Wong <mengwong@pobox.com>.
This man-page was created by Scott Kitterman <scott@kitterman.com> and is licensed under
the same terms as the program.
policy-spf.conf(5)