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liveoneggs • today at 12:27 PM • 3 replies • view on HN

This is how email work(ed) over smtp. When each command was sent it would get a '200'-class message (success) or 400/500-class message (failure). Sound familiar?

telnet smtp.mailserver.com 25

HELO

MAIL FROM: [email protected]

RCPT TO: [email protected]

DATA

blah blah blah

how's it going?

talk to you later!

.

QUIT

Replies

1718627440 • today at 1:53 PM

For anyone who wants to try this against a modern server:

    openssl s_client -connect smtp.mailserver.com:smtps -crlf
    220 smtp.mailserver.com ESMTP Postfix (Debian/GNU)
    EHLO example.com
    250-smtp.mailserver.com
    250-PIPELINING
    250-SIZE 10240000
    250-VRFY
    250-ETRN
    250-AUTH PLAIN LOGIN
    250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES
    250-8BITMIME
    250-DSN
    250-SMTPUTF8
    250 CHUNKING

    MAIL FROM:[email protected]
    250 2.1.0 Ok

    RCPT TO:postmaster
    250 2.1.5 Ok

    DATA
    354 End data with <CR><LF>.<CR><LF>

    Hi
    .
    250 2.0.0 Ok: queued as BADA579CCB

    QUIT
    221 2.0.0 Bye
Telemakhos • today at 1:07 PM

This brings back some fun memories from the 1990s when this was exactly how we would send prank emails.

➕ show 2 replies
xg15 • today at 1:50 PM

I like how SMTP was at least honest in calling it the "receipt to" address and not the "sender" address.

Edit: wrong.

➕ show 1 reply