path: root/man/man5/access.5

.TH ACCESS 5 
.ad
.fi
.SH NAME
access
\-
Postfix SMTP server access table
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.na
.nf
\fBpostmap /etc/postfix/access\fR

\fBpostmap \-q "\fIstring\fB" /etc/postfix/access\fR

\fBpostmap \-q \- /etc/postfix/access <\fIinputfile\fR
.SH DESCRIPTION
.ad
.fi
This document describes access control on remote SMTP client
information: host names, network addresses, and envelope
sender or recipient addresses; it is implemented by the
Postfix SMTP server.  See \fBheader_checks\fR(5) or
\fBbody_checks\fR(5) for access control on the content of
email messages.

Normally, the \fBaccess\fR(5) table is specified as a text file
that serves as input to the \fBpostmap\fR(1) command.
The result, an indexed file in \fBdbm\fR or \fBdb\fR format,
is used for fast searching by the mail system. Execute the
command "\fBpostmap /etc/postfix/access\fR" to rebuild an
indexed file after changing the corresponding text file.

When the table is provided via other means such as NIS, LDAP
or SQL, the same lookups are done as for ordinary indexed files.

Alternatively, the table can be provided as a regular\-expression
map where patterns are given as regular expressions, or lookups
can be directed to TCP\-based server. In those cases, the lookups
are done in a slightly different way as described below under
"REGULAR EXPRESSION TABLES" or "TCP\-BASED TABLES".
.SH "CASE FOLDING"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
The search string is folded to lowercase before database
lookup. As of Postfix 2.3, the search string is not case
folded with database types such as regexp: or pcre: whose
lookup fields can match both upper and lower case.
.SH "TABLE FORMAT"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
The input format for the \fBpostmap\fR(1) command is as follows:
.IP "\fIpattern action\fR"
When \fIpattern\fR matches a mail address, domain or host address,
perform the corresponding \fIaction\fR.
.IP "blank lines and comments"
Empty lines and whitespace\-only lines are ignored, as
are lines whose first non\-whitespace character is a `#'.
.IP "multi\-line text"
A logical line starts with non\-whitespace text. A line that
starts with whitespace continues a logical line.
.SH "EMAIL ADDRESS PATTERNS"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
With lookups from indexed files such as DB or DBM, or from networked
tables such as NIS, LDAP or SQL, patterns are tried in the order as
listed below:
.IP \fIuser\fR@\fIdomain\fR
Matches the specified mail address.
.IP \fIdomain.tld\fR
Matches \fIdomain.tld\fR as the domain part of an email address.
.sp
The pattern \fIdomain.tld\fR also matches subdomains, but only
when the string \fBsmtpd_access_maps\fR is listed in the Postfix
\fBparent_domain_matches_subdomains\fR configuration setting.
.IP \fI.domain.tld\fR
Matches subdomains of \fIdomain.tld\fR, but only when the
string \fBsmtpd_access_maps\fR is not listed in the Postfix
\fBparent_domain_matches_subdomains\fR configuration setting.
.IP \fIuser\fR@
Matches all mail addresses with the specified user part.
.PP
Note: lookup of the null sender address is not possible with
some types of lookup table. By default, Postfix uses \fB<>\fR
as the lookup key for such addresses. The value is specified with
the \fBsmtpd_null_access_lookup_key\fR parameter in the Postfix
\fBmain.cf\fR file.
.SH "EMAIL ADDRESS EXTENSION"
.na
.nf
.fi
.ad
When a mail address localpart contains the optional recipient delimiter
(e.g., \fIuser+foo\fR@\fIdomain\fR), the lookup order becomes:
\fIuser+foo\fR@\fIdomain\fR, \fIuser\fR@\fIdomain\fR, \fIdomain\fR,
\fIuser+foo\fR@, and \fIuser\fR@.
.SH "HOST NAME/ADDRESS PATTERNS"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
With lookups from indexed files such as DB or DBM, or from networked
tables such as NIS, LDAP or SQL, the following lookup patterns are
examined in the order as listed:
.IP \fIdomain.tld\fR
Matches \fIdomain.tld\fR.
.sp
The pattern \fIdomain.tld\fR also matches subdomains, but only
when the string \fBsmtpd_access_maps\fR is listed in the Postfix
\fBparent_domain_matches_subdomains\fR configuration setting.
.IP \fI.domain.tld\fR
Matches subdomains of \fIdomain.tld\fR, but only when the
string \fBsmtpd_access_maps\fR is not listed in the Postfix
\fBparent_domain_matches_subdomains\fR configuration setting.
.IP \fInet.work.addr.ess\fR
.IP \fInet.work.addr\fR
.IP \fInet.work\fR
.IP \fInet\fR
Matches the specified IPv4 host address or subnetwork. An
IPv4 host address is a sequence of four decimal octets
separated by ".".

Subnetworks are matched by repeatedly truncating the last
".octet" from the remote IPv4 host address string until a
match is found in the access table, or until further
truncation is not possible.

NOTE 1: The access map lookup key must be in canonical form:
do not specify unnecessary null characters, and do not
enclose network address information with "[]" characters.

NOTE 2: use the \fBcidr\fR lookup table type to specify
network/netmask patterns. See \fBcidr_table\fR(5) for details.
.IP \fInet:work:addr:ess\fR
.IP \fInet:work:addr\fR
.IP \fInet:work\fR
.IP \fInet\fR
Matches the specified IPv6 host address or subnetwork. An
IPv6 host address is a sequence of three to eight hexadecimal
octet pairs separated by ":".

Subnetworks are matched by repeatedly truncating the last
":octetpair" from the remote IPv6 host address string until
a match is found in the access table, or until further
truncation is not possible.

NOTE 1: the truncation and comparison are done with the
string representation of the IPv6 host address. Thus, not
all the ":" subnetworks will be tried.

NOTE 2: The access map lookup key must be in canonical form:
do not specify unnecessary null characters, and do not
enclose network address information with "[]" characters.

NOTE 3: use the \fBcidr\fR lookup table type to specify
network/netmask patterns. See \fBcidr_table\fR(5) for details.

IPv6 support is available in Postfix 2.2 and later.
.SH "ACCEPT ACTIONS"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
.IP \fBOK\fR
Accept the address etc. that matches the pattern.
.IP \fIall\-numerical\fR
An all\-numerical result is treated as OK. This format is
generated by address\-based relay authorization schemes
such as pop\-before\-smtp.
.PP
For other accept actions, see "OTHER ACTIONS" below.
.SH "REJECT ACTIONS"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
Postfix version 2.3 and later support enhanced status codes
as defined in RFC 3463.
When no code is specified at the beginning of the \fItext\fR
below, Postfix inserts a default enhanced status code of "5.7.1"
in the case of reject actions, and "4.7.1" in the case of
defer actions. See "ENHANCED STATUS CODES" below.
.IP "\fB4\fINN text\fR"
.IP "\fB5\fINN text\fR"
Reject the address etc. that matches the pattern, and respond with
the numerical three\-digit code and text. \fB4\fINN\fR means "try
again later", while \fB5\fINN\fR means "do not try again".

The following responses have special meaning for the Postfix
SMTP server:
.RS
.IP "\fB421 \fItext\fR (Postfix 2.3 and later)"
.IP "\fB521 \fItext\fR (Postfix 2.6 and later)"
After responding with the numerical three\-digit code and
text, disconnect immediately from the SMTP client.  This
frees up SMTP server resources so that they can be made
available to another SMTP client.
.IP
Note: The "521" response should be used only with botnets
and other malware where interoperability is of no concern.
The "send 521 and disconnect" behavior is NOT defined in
the SMTP standard.
.RE
.IP "\fBREJECT \fIoptional text...\fR
Reject the address etc. that matches the pattern. Reply with
"\fB$access_map_reject_code \fIoptional text...\fR" when the
optional text is
specified, otherwise reply with a generic error response message.
.IP "\fBDEFER \fIoptional text...\fR
Reject the address etc. that matches the pattern. Reply with
"\fB$access_map_defer_code \fIoptional text...\fR" when the
optional text is
specified, otherwise reply with a generic error response message.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.6 and later.
.IP "\fBDEFER_IF_REJECT \fIoptional text...\fR
Defer the request if some later restriction would result in a
REJECT action. Reply with "\fB$access_map_defer_code 4.7.1
\fIoptional text...\fR" when the
optional text is specified, otherwise reply with a generic error
response message.
.sp
Prior to Postfix 2.6, the SMTP reply code is 450.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.1 and later.
.IP "\fBDEFER_IF_PERMIT \fIoptional text...\fR
Defer the request if some later restriction would result in a
an explicit or implicit PERMIT action.
Reply with "\fB$access_map_defer_code 4.7.1 \fI optional
text...\fR" when the
optional text is specified, otherwise reply with a generic error
response message.
.sp
Prior to Postfix 2.6, the SMTP reply code is 450.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.1 and later.
.PP
For other reject actions, see "OTHER ACTIONS" below.
.SH "OTHER ACTIONS"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
.IP \fIrestriction...\fR
Apply the named UCE restriction(s) (\fBpermit\fR, \fBreject\fR,
\fBreject_unauth_destination\fR, and so on).
.IP "\fBBCC \fIuser@domain\fR"
Send one copy of the message to the specified recipient.
.sp
If multiple BCC actions are specified within the same SMTP
MAIL transaction, with Postfix 3.0 only the last action
will be used.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 3.0 and later.
.IP "\fBDISCARD \fIoptional text...\fR
Claim successful delivery and silently discard the message.
Log the optional text if specified, otherwise log a generic
message.
.sp
Note: this action currently affects all recipients of the message.
To discard only one recipient without discarding the entire message,
use the transport(5) table to direct mail to the discard(8) service.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.0 and later.
.IP \fBDUNNO\fR
Pretend that the lookup key was not found. This
prevents Postfix from trying substrings of the lookup key
(such as a subdomain name, or a network address subnetwork).
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.0 and later.
.IP "\fBFILTER \fItransport:destination\fR"
After the message is queued, send the entire message through
the specified external content filter. The \fItransport\fR
name specifies the first field of a mail delivery agent
definition in master.cf; the syntax of the next\-hop
\fIdestination\fR is described in the manual page of the
corresponding delivery agent.  More information about
external content filters is in the Postfix FILTER_README
file.
.sp
Note 1: do not use $\fInumber\fR regular expression
substitutions for \fItransport\fR or \fIdestination\fR
unless you know that the information has a trusted origin.
.sp
Note 2: this action overrides the main.cf \fBcontent_filter\fR
setting, and affects all recipients of the message. In the
case that multiple \fBFILTER\fR actions fire, only the last
one is executed.
.sp
Note 3: the purpose of the FILTER command is to override
message routing.  To override the recipient's \fItransport\fR
but not the next\-hop \fIdestination\fR, specify an empty
filter \fIdestination\fR (Postfix 2.7 and later), or specify
a \fItransport:destination\fR that delivers through a
different Postfix instance (Postfix 2.6 and earlier). Other
options are using the recipient\-dependent \fBtrans\%port\%_maps\fR
or the sen\%der\-dependent
\fBsender\%_de\%pen\%dent\%_de\%fault\%_trans\%port\%_maps\fR
features.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.0 and later.
.IP "\fBHOLD \fIoptional text...\fR"
Place the message on the \fBhold\fR queue, where it will
sit until someone either deletes it or releases it for
delivery.
Log the optional text if specified, otherwise log a generic
message.

Mail that is placed on hold can be examined with the
\fBpostcat\fR(1) command, and can be destroyed or released with
the \fBpostsuper\fR(1) command.
.sp
Note: use "\fBpostsuper \-r\fR" to release mail that was kept on
hold for a significant fraction of \fB$maximal_queue_lifetime\fR
or \fB$bounce_queue_lifetime\fR, or longer. Use "\fBpostsuper \-H\fR"
only for mail that will not expire within a few delivery attempts.
.sp
Note: this action currently affects all recipients of the message.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.0 and later.
.IP "\fBPREPEND \fIheadername: headervalue\fR"
Prepend the specified message header to the message.
When more than one PREPEND action executes, the first
prepended header appears before the second etc. prepended
header.
.sp
Note: this action must execute before the message content
is received; it cannot execute in the context of
\fBsmtpd_end_of_data_restrictions\fR.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.1 and later.
.IP "\fBREDIRECT \fIuser@domain\fR"
After the message is queued, send the message to the specified
address instead of the intended recipient(s).  When multiple
\fBREDIRECT\fR actions fire, only the last one takes effect.
.sp
Note: this action overrides the FILTER action, and currently
overrides all recipients of the message.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.1 and later.
.IP "\fBINFO \fIoptional text...\fR
Log an informational record with the optional text, together
with client information and if available, with helo, sender,
recipient and protocol information.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 3.0 and later.
.IP "\fBWARN \fIoptional text...\fR
Log a warning with the optional text, together with client information
and if available, with helo, sender, recipient and protocol information.
.sp
This feature is available in Postfix 2.1 and later.
.SH "ENHANCED STATUS CODES"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
Postfix version 2.3 and later support enhanced status codes
as defined in RFC 3463.
When an enhanced status code is specified in an access
table, it is subject to modification. The following
transformations are needed when the same access table is
used for client, helo, sender, or recipient access restrictions;
they happen regardless of whether Postfix replies to a MAIL
FROM, RCPT TO or other SMTP command.
.IP \(bu
When a sender address matches a REJECT action, the Postfix
SMTP server will transform a recipient DSN status (e.g.,
4.1.1\-4.1.6) into the corresponding sender DSN status, and
vice versa.
.IP \(bu
When non\-address information matches a REJECT action (such
as the HELO command argument or the client hostname/address),
the Postfix SMTP server will transform a sender or recipient
DSN status into a generic non\-address DSN status (e.g.,
4.0.0).
.SH "REGULAR EXPRESSION TABLES"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
This section describes how the table lookups change when the table
is given in the form of regular expressions. For a description of
regular expression lookup table syntax, see \fBregexp_table\fR(5)
or \fBpcre_table\fR(5).

Each pattern is a regular expression that is applied to the entire
string being looked up. Depending on the application, that string
is an entire client hostname, an entire client IP address, or an
entire mail address. Thus, no parent domain or parent network search
is done, \fIuser@domain\fR mail addresses are not broken up into
their \fIuser@\fR and \fIdomain\fR constituent parts, nor is
\fIuser+foo\fR broken up into \fIuser\fR and \fIfoo\fR.

Patterns are applied in the order as specified in the table, until a
pattern is found that matches the search string.

Actions are the same as with indexed file lookups, with
the additional feature that parenthesized substrings from the
pattern can be interpolated as \fB$1\fR, \fB$2\fR and so on.
.SH "TCP-BASED TABLES"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
This section describes how the table lookups change when lookups
are directed to a TCP\-based server. For a description of the TCP
client/server lookup protocol, see \fBtcp_table\fR(5).
This feature is not available up to and including Postfix version 2.4.

Each lookup operation uses the entire query string once.
Depending on the application, that string is an entire client
hostname, an entire client IP address, or an entire mail address.
Thus, no parent domain or parent network search is done,
\fIuser@domain\fR mail addresses are not broken up into
their \fIuser@\fR and \fIdomain\fR constituent parts, nor is
\fIuser+foo\fR broken up into \fIuser\fR and \fIfoo\fR.

Actions are the same as with indexed file lookups.
.SH "EXAMPLE"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
The following example uses an indexed file, so that the
order of table entries does not matter. The example permits
access by the client at address 1.2.3.4 but rejects all
other clients in 1.2.3.0/24. Instead of \fBhash\fR lookup
tables, some systems use \fBdbm\fR.  Use the command
"\fBpostconf \-m\fR" to find out what lookup tables Postfix
supports on your system.

.nf
.na
/etc/postfix/main.cf:
    smtpd_client_restrictions =
        check_client_access hash:/etc/postfix/access

/etc/postfix/access:
    1.2.3   REJECT
    1.2.3.4 OK
.fi
.ad

Execute the command "\fBpostmap /etc/postfix/access\fR" after
editing the file.
.SH BUGS
.ad
.fi
The table format does not understand quoting conventions.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.na
.nf
postmap(1), Postfix lookup table manager
smtpd(8), SMTP server
postconf(5), configuration parameters
transport(5), transport:nexthop syntax
.SH "README FILES"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
Use "\fBpostconf readme_directory\fR" or
"\fBpostconf html_directory\fR" to locate this information.
.na
.nf
SMTPD_ACCESS_README, built\-in SMTP server access control
DATABASE_README, Postfix lookup table overview
.SH "LICENSE"
.na
.nf
.ad
.fi
The Secure Mailer license must be distributed with this software.
.SH "AUTHOR(S)"
.na
.nf
Wietse Venema
IBM T.J. Watson Research
P.O. Box 704
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA

Wietse Venema
Google, Inc.
111 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10011, USA