spf-discuss
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Re: how to protect the HELO using SPF

2004-02-24 16:03:36
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Meng Weng Wong" <mengwong(_at_)dumbo(_dot_)pobox(_dot_)com>
To: <spf-discuss(_at_)v2(_dot_)listbox(_dot_)com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: [spf-discuss] how to protect the HELO using SPF


On Tue, Feb 24, 2004 at 11:59:48AM -0500, Meng Weng Wong wrote:
|
| Let's find a way to express the desired new functionality in the
| existing syntax.
|
| perhaps scope=mailfrom,helo?
|

if (helo domain has an spf record
    AND
    spf record indicates scope=...,helo,...
   ) THEN
      honour SPF record for domain

Using pareto's principle as a guideline, the majority of systems will have a
domain name that is reflective of their organization.

The SPF helo domain lookup should be the one base domain name

So for a HELO/EHO subdomain.domain.com,  the SPF lookup shouldl be based on
domain.com and then allow it to describe the policy.

So the syntax should be:

    if ((from == NULL) or (from domain !=  helo domain.com)) then
          if  (spf helo domain.com  = fail) then
                exit fail
          end if
    end
    process spf from domain

why?

because if the two domains are the same, then you just need to check the
return path.

If they are not the same, then that is where you begin to check the helo.

However, the benefit of SPF over DMP is that you don't need to have hundreds
of TXT records for each subdomain.

Now you can has a single SPF record (or per different domain (not
sub-domains)).    The SPF client algorytm will know which "state" it is
operating on  HELO or FROM.

But more importantly, I think the policy should emphasize Local vs Remote
HELO/EHLO domain checking.

-- 
Hector Santos, Santronics Software, Inc.
http://www.santronics.com