Postfix autoreply problem

[Kasyx]

Using the postfix autoreply.pl script, I have noticed a somewhat annoying issue...

Let's say user1@foo.bar has an autoreply set on their email (via /etc/aliases). Now, when one sends an email to user1, CCing user2, an autoreply will come back from user1, and the mail will continue to user2 as normal. However, if one sends an email to user2, CCing user1, the autoreply comes back to the user from the user2 account (i.e. in the email headers, the sender of the autoreply is listed as user2@foo.bar, instead of as user1). This occurs regardless of how many users one sends the email to (provided user1 is not listed first in the TO field, or is listed anywhere in the CC or BCC field).

Does any of this make sense? Anyone know what's going on here? I would quite like to get it sorted out.

Thanks

[koffiejunkie]

It does make sense, because the autoreply is done fairly early in the mail process (alias) so it has not been broken up into two separate mails. Autoreply should be done at delivery time. Depending on where/how your mail is delivered you might have to do some fancy stuff. If you just deliver to /var/spool/mail, you can tell Postfix to use procmail for delivery, and put a .procmailrc in the user's home dir.

[koffiejunkie]

Either ways, autoreply is bad. You open yourself up to be used for backscatter.

[Kasyx]

Either ways, autoreply is bad. You open yourself up to be used for backscatter.

How do you mean?

[koffiejunkie]

Saying you open yourself up to be used for backscatter wasn't entirely accurate, this is a bit watered down. Autoreply will reply to every single mail, including spam. Spam is always sent "from" a forged address, so you will be replying to an address that is often someone innocent. If they take issue with receiving an out-of-office from someone whom they haven't mailed, they complain to your ISP and you get blacklisted.

[Kasyx]

Saying you open yourself up to be used for backscatter wasn't entirely accurate, this is a bit watered down. Autoreply will reply to every single mail, including spam. Spam is always sent "from" a forged address, so you will be replying to an address that is often someone innocent. If they take issue with receiving an out-of-office from someone whom they haven't mailed, they complain to your ISP and you get blacklisted.

Ahh. That makes sense. Are there any alternatives to autoreply.pl?

[koffiejunkie]

vacation is a popular choice. But like I suggested earlier, I don't use it, so I'm of limited help.

[Kasyx]

vacation is a popular choice. But like I suggested earlier, I don't use it, so I'm of limited help.

Cool, I will look into it.

Thanks for the help :)

[Kasyx]

SOLVED.

The problem lay within the addresses being forwarded in the aliases file.

More info on my blag: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/blog.php?b=284