XCON: Telnet Allows Multiple HELO/EHLO Commands (251581)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server
This article was previously published under Q251581

SYMPTOMS

When you are using the TCP/IP Telnet utility to connect to port 25 of the Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server computer, you can issue the HELO/EHLO command out of sequence and multiple times without resetting the connection. The Telnet message finishes and is delivered successfully.

Sample Telnet session with multiple HELO commands:

220 Exchange2000Server.microsoft.com Microsoft ESMTP service
helo
250 Exchange2000Server.microsoft.com Hello [IP address]
mail from:Test@msft.com
250 2.1.0 Test@msft.com....Sender OK
helo
250 Exchange2000Server.microsoft.com Hello [IP address]
rcpt to:User@passport.com
250 2.1.5 User@passport.com

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

According to Request for Comments (RFC) 1651 Sect 4.1:

This command is issued instead of the HELO command, and may be issued at any time that a HELO command would be appropriate. That is, if the EHLO command is issued, and a successful response is returned, then a subsequent HELO or EHLO command will result in the server SMTP replying with code 503. A client SMTP must not cache any information returned if the EHLO command succeeds. That is, a client SMTP must issue the EHLO command at the start of each SMTP session if information about extended facilities is needed.

However, an EHLO command may be issued by a client later in the session. If it is issued after the session begins, the SMTP server must clear all buffers and reset the state exactly as if a RSET command had been issued. In other words, the sequence of RSET followed immediately by EHLO is redundant, but not harmful other than in the performance cost of executing unnecessary commands.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/25/2005
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb KB251581
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