XCON: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol Messages Received with Empty To Line (262215)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 SP1
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 SP2
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 SP1
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 SP2
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 SP3
This article was previously published under Q262215

SYMPTOMS

A recipient may receive a message that contains an empty To line.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the recipient was selected as a Bcc (blind carbon copy) recipient.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The following section of Request for Comments (RFC) 822 describes how messages that are addressed to Bcc recipients are processed: 

4.5.3.  BCC / RESENT-BCC

        This field contains the identity of additional recipients of
        the message. The contents of this field are not included in
        copies of the message sent to the primary and secondary reci-
        pients. Some systems may choose to include the text of the
        "Bcc" field only in the author(s)'s copy, while others may
        also include it in the text sent to all those indicated in the
        "Bcc" list.

This behavior commonly occurs when users send unsolicited commercial e-mail. The sender enters a valid e-mail address in the To box, and then enters many recipients that the sender wants to receive the unsolicited e-mail in the Bcc box.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/28/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB262215
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.