Question

Spam is being sent from our local exchange server ?????? Help!

Asked by: easiman

Hi,
We are using exchange server on sbs 2003.
Today I recieved a lot of email from our own exchange system administrator saying that it could not deliver some emails which I did not try to send. These emails looked like Spam.

I went into exchange manager and could not find anything relating to bulk sends but when I went into the queues I found several email in queue from postmaster@mydomain which we did not send.

I think we've been hit by something can anyone tell us how to check this for definate, stop it and even how to stop it from happening again

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Asked On
2008-05-01 at 09:28:35ID23369146
Topics

Exchange Email Server

,

Anti-Spam Email Software

,

SBS Small Business Server

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: SqueebeePosted on 2008-05-01 at 09:37:35ID: 21480210

Odds are you have bit hit by a joe-job, where a spammer used your address for replies on their spam but did not actually send it through your server. It's not controllable on your end but you may want to look into SPF and DK/DKIM to minimize it.

Short version is unless your logs show you sending the spam, you didn't. Someone else did and put your name on it. There's nothing you can do about it. Give it a while and the messages will likely stop.

 

by: cshepfamPosted on 2008-05-01 at 10:09:27ID: 21480526

You're being hit with a NDR attack.


Do this:


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/886208

 

by: 18526Posted on 2008-05-01 at 13:38:47ID: 21482525

cshepfam is correct, another good article for reference;

http://www.amset.info/exchange/spam-cleanup.asp

Adam

 

by: mystasmPosted on 2008-05-01 at 23:12:34ID: 21484822

The first thing to check would be for an open relay. Check to see that there are no SMTP relay hosts. Open exchange system manager and go into the SMTP virtual server properties. Then click on Relay. Make sure that the only IP's in that list belong to your SBS server. SBS cilent PC IP's should not be listed unless they are running an App that requires SMTP relay. Beware that any IP listed in this box will be able to relay mail through your server - ie if a client has an SMTP engine (that could be installed through malware) the spam could be generated from one of your clients.

Email from client to server is handled by an internal messaging protocol....so for normal operation none of the SBS clients need to be in that list. Also turn off the 'Allow all computers which authenticate to relay' option off for the same reasons stated.

Make sure that no authenticated users that have weak passwords are not able to relay as well.

To test if you are an open relay goto http://www.abuse.net/relay.html


20120131-EE-VQP-002

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