spf-discuss
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MUST SPF checking be done during SMTP time? (was: patch)

2005-05-14 05:08:53
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Wayne Schlitt wrote:
I did not apply this one.  As discussed on #spf, Chuck feels very
strongly about requiring SPF being done during the SMTP transaction
and not during later processing, such as SpamAssassin and other
filters are doing.

On the one hand, Chuck is correct in that this is the "right thing" to do, 
because during the SMTP transaction, the required identities are 
_reliably_ known, and "Received-SPF" headers can be generated for 
applications that need to "check" SPF at a later time.

On the other hand, there is little reason why checking SPF at a later time 
is _inherently_ worse.  Systems don't necessarily have to use unreliable 
identities after SMTP time.  Systems don't necessarily have to generate 
bounces after SMTP time.  As long as you are guaranteed to work on 
reliable identities, you can be SPF compliant.  (Also, whether bounces are 
generated is outside the scope of SPF, even though it is unsocial 
behavior.  Recommend against it if you wish, but not in RFC 2119 terms.)

I think we should go the latter route, but it is not a strong preference.
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