Question

Spam attack

Asked by: GuildOfDruids

I have recently setup centos 5.3  for webserver (apache) with default settings for sendmail (which is pre installed with default settings)

for some reasons server was a bit slow so I logged in and typed 'top' which showed me that sendmail is using a lot memory so I checked maillog and found that someone is spamming the hell out of the server. Mail Logs are coded below.

I checked the mail queue  ls /var/spool/mqueue and it was filled with million of messages. I tried to rm -rf * but it was too much for the server to delete. Then I deleted them in chunks.

But I'm still getting these messages with 10 messages per second or may be my server is sending them 10 messages per second I dont know how can I find that where is it comming from who is triggering them.

I think some is trying to send them from my server but how to troubleshoot them ..

Please help me

Thanks 

Sep 17 12:54:55 mydomainsendmail[14212]: n8HBstwU014212: to=mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com,"Juliane KIRPALANI" <zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=apache (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=60250, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (n8HBstAN014213 Message accepted for delivery)
Sep 17 12:54:55 mydomainsendmail[14215]: n8HBstAN014213: to=<mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=alt4.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com. [216.239.59.27], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: 421-4.7.0 [217.8.243.199] Our system has detected an unusual amount of
Sep 17 12:54:55 mydomainsendmail[14215]: n8HBstAN014213: to=<zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=zen'co.uk, dsn=5.1.2, stat=Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:54:55 mydomainsendmail[14215]: n8HBstAN014213: n8HBstAN014215: DSN: Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:54:55 mydomainsendmail[14215]: n8HBstAN014215: to=root, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=local, pri=31633, dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent
Sep 17 12:54:58 mydomainsendmail[14222]: n8HBsw07014222: from=apache, size=250, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171154.n8HBsw07014222@mydomain.local>, relay=apache@localhost
Sep 17 12:54:58 mydomainsendmail[14223]: n8HBswrw014223: from=<apache@mydomain.local>, size=435, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171154.n8HBsw07014222@mydomain.local>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA, relay=mydomain.local [127.0.0.1]
Sep 17 12:54:58 mydomainsendmail[14222]: n8HBsw07014222: to=mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com,"Juliane KIRPALANI" <zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=apache (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=60250, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (n8HBswrw014223 Message accepted for delivery)
Sep 17 12:54:58 mydomainsendmail[14225]: n8HBswrw014223: to=<mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=alt4.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com. [216.239.59.27], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: 421-4.7.0 [217.8.243.199] Our system has detected an unusual amount of
Sep 17 12:54:58 mydomainsendmail[14225]: n8HBswrw014223: to=<zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=zen'co.uk, dsn=5.1.2, stat=Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:54:58 mydomainsendmail[14225]: n8HBswrw014223: n8HBswrw014225: DSN: Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:54:58 mydomainsendmail[14225]: n8HBswrw014225: to=root, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=local, pri=31633, dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent
Sep 17 12:54:59 mydomainsendmail[14228]: n8HBsxvu014228: from=apache, size=639, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171154.n8HBsxvu014228@mydomain.local>, relay=apache@localhost
Sep 17 12:54:59 mydomainsendmail[14229]: n8HBsxVg014229: from=<apache@mydomain.local>, size=824, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171154.n8HBsxvu014228@mydomain.local>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA, relay=mydomain.local [127.0.0.1]
Sep 17 12:54:59 mydomainsendmail[14228]: n8HBsxvu014228: to=mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com,"Jon Puckey" <jonpuckey@yahoo.co.uk>, ctladdr=apache (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=60639, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (n8HBsxVg014229 Message accepted for delivery)
Sep 17 12:55:00 mydomainsendmail[14231]: n8HBsxVg014229: to=<mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:01, xdelay=00:00:01, mailer=esmtp, pri=150824, relay=alt4.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com. [216.239.59.27], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: 421-4.7.0 [217.8.243.199] Our system has detected an unusual amount of
Sep 17 12:55:00 mydomainsendmail[14231]: n8HBsxVg014229: to=<jonpuckey@yahoo.co.uk>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:01, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150824, relay=mx2.mail.eu.yahoo.com. [77.238.177.142], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (ok dirdel)
Sep 17 12:55:01 mydomainsendmail[14234]: n8HBt1Fm014234: from=apache, size=250, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171155.n8HBt1Fm014234@mydomain.local>, relay=apache@localhost
Sep 17 12:55:01 mydomainsendmail[14235]: n8HBt1oo014235: from=<apache@mydomain.local>, size=435, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171155.n8HBt1Fm014234@mydomain.local>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA, relay=mydomain.local [127.0.0.1]
Sep 17 12:55:01 mydomainsendmail[14234]: n8HBt1Fm014234: to=mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com,"Juliane KIRPALANI" <zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=apache (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=60250, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (n8HBt1oo014235 Message accepted for delivery)
Sep 17 12:55:01 mydomainsendmail[14237]: n8HBt1oo014235: to=<mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=alt4.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com. [216.239.59.27], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: 421-4.7.0 [217.8.243.199] Our system has detected an unusual amount of
Sep 17 12:55:01 mydomainsendmail[14237]: n8HBt1oo014235: to=<zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=zen'co.uk, dsn=5.1.2, stat=Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:55:01 mydomainsendmail[14237]: n8HBt1oo014235: n8HBt1oo014237: DSN: Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:55:01 mydomainsendmail[14237]: n8HBt1oo014237: to=root, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=local, pri=31633, dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent
Sep 17 12:55:04 mydomainsendmail[14240]: n8HBt4ln014240: from=apache, size=250, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171155.n8HBt4ln014240@mydomain.local>, relay=apache@localhost
Sep 17 12:55:04 mydomainsendmail[14241]: n8HBt4CN014241: from=<apache@mydomain.local>, size=435, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171155.n8HBt4ln014240@mydomain.local>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA, relay=mydomain.local [127.0.0.1]
Sep 17 12:55:04 mydomainsendmail[14240]: n8HBt4ln014240: to=mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com,"Juliane KIRPALANI" <zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=apache (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=60250, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (n8HBt4CN014241 Message accepted for delivery)
Sep 17 12:55:04 mydomainsendmail[14243]: n8HBt4CN014241: to=<mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=alt4.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com. [216.239.59.27], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: 421-4.7.0 [217.8.243.199] Our system has detected an unusual amount of
Sep 17 12:55:04 mydomainsendmail[14243]: n8HBt4CN014241: to=<zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=zen'co.uk, dsn=5.1.2, stat=Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:55:04 mydomainsendmail[14243]: n8HBt4CN014241: n8HBt4CN014243: DSN: Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:55:04 mydomainsendmail[14243]: n8HBt4CN014243: to=root, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=local, pri=31633, dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent
Sep 17 12:55:07 mydomainsendmail[14245]: n8HBt7Pw014245: from=apache, size=250, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171155.n8HBt7Pw014245@mydomain.local>, relay=apache@localhost
Sep 17 12:55:07 mydomainsendmail[14246]: n8HBt7OZ014246: from=<apache@mydomain.local>, size=435, class=0, nrcpts=2, msgid=<200909171155.n8HBt7Pw014245@mydomain.local>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA, relay=mydomain.local [127.0.0.1]
Sep 17 12:55:07 mydomainsendmail[14245]: n8HBt7Pw014245: to=mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com,"Juliane KIRPALANI" <zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=apache (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=60250, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (n8HBt7OZ014246 Message accepted for delivery)
Sep 17 12:55:07 mydomainsendmail[14249]: n8HBt7OZ014246: to=<mydomain.co.uk@googlemail.com>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=alt4.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com. [216.239.59.27], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: 421-4.7.0 [217.8.243.199] Our system has detected an unusual amount of
Sep 17 12:55:07 mydomainsendmail[14249]: n8HBt7OZ014246: to=<zen30016@zen'co.uk>, ctladdr=<apache@mydomain.local> (48/48), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=150435, relay=zen'co.uk, dsn=5.1.2, stat=Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:55:07 mydomainsendmail[14249]: n8HBt7OZ014246: n8HBt7OZ014249: DSN: Host unknown (Name server: zen'co.uk: host not found)
Sep 17 12:55:07 mydomainsendmail[14249]: n8HBt7OZ014249: to=root, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=local, pri=31633, dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent
                                  
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Asked On
2009-09-17 at 05:08:41ID24739495
Topics

SendMail Email Server

,

Anti-Spam Email Software

,

Linux

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
3

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Answers

 

by: vikingtechnologiesPosted on 2009-09-17 at 05:45:34ID: 25355381

Check if you't server is an open relay and install spamassasin.
or check this: http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-spamsnake-ubuntu-jaunty-jackalope

 

by: jar3817Posted on 2009-09-17 at 07:33:04ID: 25356697

If this machine is just a webserver, you should prevent users from being able to access sendmail at all from the internet. You should block ALL traffic from the internet to that server except for tcp/80 and maybe tcp/443 (http and https) using iptables:

/sbin/iptables -A INPUT -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
/sbin/iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -m state --state NEW -m tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
/sbin/iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -m state --state NEW -m tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
/sbin/iptables -A INPUT -j REJECT --reject-with icmp-host-prohibited

 

by: GuildOfDruidsPosted on 2009-09-17 at 07:54:10ID: 25356938

The server is with default settings I haven't configure anything on sendmail and I dont know much about sendmail. So by default it (shouldn't & isn't) accept emails from outside but can send email to outside as I tried from outside and I got this (111) Connection refused

More Explanations:

The server actually isn't receiving emails as I checked the logs, these are the emails server is trying to send as newsletters. Emails are stucking in the queue I think these are generating from it's own hosted website (e-commerce website).

These aren't normal newsletters as it is only sending to one person again and again like a loop and I'm keep on deleting the queue manually. I was just wonder if there is any sending queue where I can stop these from being sent.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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