Mail::SPF::Server - Server class for processing SPF requests


Mail-SPF documentation Contained in the Mail-SPF distribution.

Index


Code Index:

NAME

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Mail::SPF::Server - Server class for processing SPF requests

SYNOPSIS

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    use Mail::SPF;

    my $spf_server  = Mail::SPF::Server->new(
        # Optional custom default for authority explanation:
        default_authority_explanation =>
            'See http://www.%{d}/why/id=%{S};ip=%{I};r=%{R}'
    );

    my $result      = $spf_server->process($request);

DESCRIPTION

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Mail::SPF::Server is a server class for processing SPF requests. Each server instance can be configured with specific processing parameters. Also, the default Net::DNS::Resolver DNS resolver used for making DNS look-ups can be overridden with a custom resolver object.

Constructor

The following constructor is provided:

new(%options): returns Mail::SPF::Server

Creates a new server object for processing SPF requests.

%options is a list of key/value pairs representing any of the following options:

default_authority_explanation

A string denoting the default (not macro-expanded) authority explanation string to use if the authority domain does not specify an explanation string of its own. Defaults to:

    'Please see http://www.openspf.org/Why?s=%{_scope};id=%{S};ip=%{C};r=%{R}'

As can be seen from the default, a non-standard _scope pseudo macro is supported that expands to the name of the identity's scope. (Note: Do not use any non-standard macros in explanation strings published in DNS.)

hostname

A string denoting the local system's fully qualified host name that should be used for expanding the r macro in explanation strings. Defaults to the system's configured host name.

dns_resolver

An optional DNS resolver object. If none is specified, a new Net::DNS::Resolver object is used. The resolver object may be of a different class, but it must provide an interface similar to Net::DNS::Resolver -- at least the send and errorstring methods must be supported, and the send method must return either an object of class Net::DNS::Packet, or, in the case of an error, undef.

query_rr_types

For which RR types to query when looking up and selecting SPF records. The following values are supported:

Mail::SPF::Server->query_rr_type_all (default)

Both SPF and TXT type RRs.

Mail::SPF::Server->query_rr_type_spf

SPF type RRs only.

Mail::SPF::Server->query_rr_type_txt

TXT type RRs only.

Some (few) name servers suffer from serious brain damage with regard to the handling of queries for RR types that are unknown to them, such as the SPF RR type, so some (few) Mail::SPF users have expressed the desire for a way to disable the retrieval of SPF type RRs. It is, however, a better idea to pressure the manufacturers of such broken name servers into fixing their products.

See RFC 4408, 3.1.1, for a discussion of the topic, as well as the description of the select_record method.

max_dns_interactive_terms

An integer denoting the maximum number of terms (mechanisms and modifiers) per SPF check that perform DNS look-ups, as defined in RFC 4408, 10.1, paragraph 6. If undef is specified, there is no limit on the number of such terms. Defaults to 10, which is the value defined in RFC 4408.

A value above the default is strongly discouraged for security reasons. A value below the default has implications with regard to the predictability of SPF results. Only deviate from the default if you know what you are doing!

max_name_lookups_per_term

An integer denoting the maximum number of DNS name look-ups per term (mechanism or modifier), as defined in RFC 4408, 10.1, paragraph 7. If undef is specified, there is no limit on the number of look-ups performed. Defaults to 10, which is the value defined in RFC 4408.

A value above the default is strongly discouraged for security reasons. A value below the default has implications with regard to the predictability of SPF results. Only deviate from the default if you know what you are doing!

max_name_lookups_per_mx_mech
max_name_lookups_per_ptr_mech

An integer denoting the maximum number of DNS name look-ups per mx or ptr mechanism, respectively. Defaults to the value of the max_name_lookups_per_term option. See there for additional information and security notes.

max_void_dns_lookups

An integer denoting the maximum number of "void" DNS look-ups per SPF check, i.e. the number of DNS look-ups that were caused by DNS-interactive terms and macros (as defined in RFC 4408, 10.1, paragraphs 6 and 7) and that are allowed to return an empty answer with RCODE 0 or RCODE 3 (NXDOMAIN) before processing is aborted with a permerror result. If undef is specified, there is no stricter limit on the number of void DNS look-ups beyond the usual processing limits. Defaults to 2.

Specifically, the DNS look-ups that are subject to this limit are those caused by the a, mx, ptr, and exists mechanisms and the p macro.

A value of 2 is likely to prevent effective DoS attacks against third-party victim domains. However, a definite limit may cause permerror results even with certain (overly complex) innocent sender policies where useful results would normally be returned.

Class methods

The following class methods are provided:

result_class: returns class
result_class($name): returns class

Returns a Mail::SPF::Result descendent class determined from the given result name via the server's inherent result base class, or returns the server's inherent result base class if no result name is given. This method may also be used as an instance method.

Note: Do not write code invoking class methods on literal result class names as this would ignore any derivative result classes provided by Mail::SPF extension modules.

throw_result($name, $request): throws Mail::SPF::Result
throw_result($name, $request, $text): throws Mail::SPF::Result

Throws a Mail::SPF::Result descendant determined from the given result name via the server's inherent result base class, passing an optional result text and associating the given Mail::SPF::Request object with the result object. This method may also be used as an instance method.

Note: Do not write code invoking throw on literal result class names as this would ignore any derivative result classes provided by Mail::SPF extension modules.

Instance methods

The following instance methods are provided:

process($request): returns Mail::SPF::Result

Processes the given Mail::SPF::Request object, queries the authoritative domain for an SPF sender policy (see the description of the select_record method), evaluates the policy with regard to the given identity and other request parameters, and returns a Mail::SPF::Result object denoting the result of the policy evaluation. See RFC 4408, 4, and RFC 4406, 4, for details.

select_record($request): returns Mail::SPF::Record; throws Mail::SPF::EDNSError, Mail::SPF::ENoAcceptableRecord, Mail::SPF::ERedundantAcceptableRecords, Mail::SPF::ESyntaxError

Queries the authority domain of the given Mail::SPF::Request object for SPF sender policy records and, if multiple records are available, selects the record of the highest acceptable record version that covers the requested scope.

More precisely, the following algorithm is performed:

1.

Determine the authority domain, the set of acceptable SPF record versions, and the identity scope from the given request object.

2.

Query the authority domain for SPF records of the SPF DNS RR type, discarding any records that are of an inacceptable version or do not cover the desired scope.

If this yields no SPF records, query the authority domain for SPF records of the TXT DNS RR type, discarding any records that are of an inacceptable version or do not cover the desired scope.

If still no acceptable SPF records could be found, throw a Mail::SPF::ENoAcceptableRecord exception.

3.

Discard all records but those of the highest acceptable version found.

If exactly one record remains, return it. Otherwise, throw a Mail::SPF::ERedundantAcceptableRecords exception.

If the querying of either RR type has been disabled via the new constructor's query_rr_types option, the respective part in step 2 will be skipped.

Mail::SPF::EDNSError exceptions due to DNS look-ups and Mail::SPF::ESyntaxError exceptions due to invalid acceptable records may also be thrown.

get_acceptable_records_from_packet($packet, $rr_type, \@versions, $scope, $domain): returns list of Mail::SPF::Record

Filters from the given Net::DNS::Packet object all resource records of the given RR type and for the given domain name, discarding any records that are not SPF records at all, that are of an inacceptable SPF record version, or that do not cover the given scope. Returns a list of acceptable records.

dns_lookup($domain, $rr_type): returns Net::DNS::Packet; throws Mail::SPF::EDNSTimeout, Mail::SPF::EDNSError

Queries the DNS using the configured resolver for resource records of the desired type at the specified domain and returns a Net::DNS::Packet object if an answer packet was received. Throws a Mail::SPF::EDNSTimeout exception if a DNS time-out occurred. Throws a Mail::SPF::EDNSError exception if an error (other than RCODE 3 AKA NXDOMAIN) occurred.

count_dns_interactive_term($request): throws Mail::SPF::EProcessingLimitExceeded

Increments by one the count of DNS-interactive mechanisms and modifiers that have been processed so far during the evaluation of the given Mail::SPF::Request object. If this exceeds the configured limit (see the new constructor's max_dns_interactive_terms option), throws a Mail::SPF::EProcessingLimitExceeded exception.

This method is supposed to be called by the match and process methods of Mail::SPF::Mech and Mail::SPF::Mod sub-classes before (and only if) they do any DNS look-ups.

count_void_dns_lookup($request): throws Mail::SPF::EProcessingLimitExceeded

Increments by one the count of "void" DNS look-ups that have occurred so far during the evaluation of the given Mail::SPF::Request object. If this exceeds the configured limit (see the new constructor's max_void_dns_lookups option), throws a Mail::SPF::EProcessingLimitExceeded exception.

This method is supposed to be called by any code after any calls to the dns_lookup method whenever (i) no answer records were returned, and (ii) this fact is a possible indication of a DoS attack against a third-party victim domain, and (iii) the number of "void" look-ups is not already constrained otherwise (as for example is the case with the include mechanism and the redirect modifier). Specifically, this applies to look-ups performed by the a, mx, ptr, and exists mechanisms and the p macro.

default_authority_explanation: returns Mail::SPF::MacroString

Returns the default authority explanation as a MacroString object. See the description of the new constructor's default_authority_explanation option.

hostname: returns string

Returns the local system's host name. See the description of the new constructor's hostname option.

dns_resolver: returns Net::DNS::Resolver or compatible object

Returns the DNS resolver object of the server object. See the description of the new constructor's dns_resolver option.

query_rr_types: returns integer

Returns a value denoting the RR types for which to query when looking up and selecting SPF records. See the description of the new constructor's query_rr_types option.

max_dns_interactive_terms: returns integer
max_name_lookups_per_term: returns integer
max_name_lookups_per_mx_mech: returns integer
max_name_lookups_per_ptr_mech: returns integer
max_void_dns_lookups: returns integer

Return the limit values of the server object. See the description of the new constructor's corresponding options.

SEE ALSO

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Mail::SPF, Mail::SPF::Request, Mail::SPF::Result

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4408.txt

For availability, support, and license information, see the README file included with Mail::SPF.

AUTHORS

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Julian Mehnle <julian@mehnle.net>, Shevek <cpan@anarres.org>


Mail-SPF documentation Contained in the Mail-SPF distribution.
#
# Mail::SPF::Server
# Server class for processing SPF requests.
#
# (C) 2005-2008 Julian Mehnle <julian@mehnle.net>
#     2005      Shevek <cpan@anarres.org>
# $Id: Server.pm 50 2008-08-17 21:28:15Z Julian Mehnle $
#
##############################################################################

package Mail::SPF::Server;

use warnings;
use strict;

use base 'Mail::SPF::Base';

use Error ':try';
use Net::DNS::Resolver;

use Mail::SPF::MacroString;
use Mail::SPF::Record;
use Mail::SPF::Result;

use constant TRUE   => (0 == 0);
use constant FALSE  => not TRUE;

use constant record_classes_by_version => {
    1   => 'Mail::SPF::v1::Record',
    2   => 'Mail::SPF::v2::Record'
};

use constant result_base_class => 'Mail::SPF::Result';

use constant query_rr_type_all                      => 0;
use constant query_rr_type_spf                      => 1;
use constant query_rr_type_txt                      => 2;

use constant default_default_authority_explanation  =>
    'Please see http://www.openspf.org/Why?s=%{_scope};id=%{S};ip=%{C};r=%{R}';

sub default_query_rr_types { shift->query_rr_type_all };

use constant default_max_dns_interactive_terms      => 10;  # RFC 4408, 10.1/6
use constant default_max_name_lookups_per_term      => 10;  # RFC 4408, 10.1/7
sub default_max_name_lookups_per_mx_mech  { shift->max_name_lookups_per_term };
sub default_max_name_lookups_per_ptr_mech { shift->max_name_lookups_per_term };

use constant default_max_void_dns_lookups           => 2;

# Interface:
##############################################################################

# Implementation:
##############################################################################

sub new {
    my ($self, %options) = @_;
    $self = $self->SUPER::new(%options);
    
    $self->{default_authority_explanation} = $self->default_default_authority_explanation
        if not defined($self->{default_authority_explanation});
    $self->{default_authority_explanation} = Mail::SPF::MacroString->new(
        text            => $self->{default_authority_explanation},
        server          => $self,
        is_explanation  => TRUE
    )
        if not UNIVERSAL::isa($self->{default_authority_explanation}, 'Mail::SPF::MacroString');
    
    $self->{hostname} ||= Mail::SPF::Util->hostname;
    
    $self->{dns_resolver} ||= Net::DNS::Resolver->new();
    
    $self->{query_rr_types} = $self->default_query_rr_types
        if not defined($self->{query_rr_types});
    
    $self->{max_dns_interactive_terms}      = $self->default_max_dns_interactive_terms
                                       if not exists($self->{max_dns_interactive_terms});
    $self->{max_name_lookups_per_term}      = $self->default_max_name_lookups_per_term
                                       if not exists($self->{max_name_lookups_per_term});
    $self->{max_name_lookups_per_mx_mech}   = $self->default_max_name_lookups_per_mx_mech
                                       if not exists($self->{max_name_lookups_per_mx_mech});
    $self->{max_name_lookups_per_ptr_mech}  = $self->default_max_name_lookups_per_ptr_mech
                                       if not exists($self->{max_name_lookups_per_ptr_mech});
    
    $self->{max_void_dns_lookups}           = $self->default_max_void_dns_lookups
                                       if not exists($self->{max_void_dns_lookups});
    
    return $self;
}

sub result_class {
    my ($self, $name) = @_;
    return
        defined($name) ?
            $self->result_base_class->result_classes->{$name}
        :   $self->result_base_class;
}

sub throw_result {
    my ($self, $name, $request, @text) = @_;
    $self->result_class($name)->throw($self, $request, @text);
}

sub process {
    my ($self, $request) = @_;
    
    $request->state('authority_explanation', undef);
    $request->state('dns_interactive_terms_count', 0);
    $request->state('void_dns_lookups_count', 0);
    
    my $result;
    try {
        my $record = $self->select_record($request);
        $request->record($record);
        $record->eval($self, $request);
    }
    catch Mail::SPF::Result with {
        $result = shift;
    }
    catch Mail::SPF::EDNSError with {
        $result = $self->result_class('temperror')->new($self, $request, shift->text);
    }
    catch Mail::SPF::ENoAcceptableRecord with {
        $result = $self->result_class('none'     )->new($self, $request, shift->text);
    }
    catch Mail::SPF::ERedundantAcceptableRecords with {
        $result = $self->result_class('permerror')->new($self, $request, shift->text);
    }
    catch Mail::SPF::ESyntaxError with {
        $result = $self->result_class('permerror')->new($self, $request, shift->text);
    }
    catch Mail::SPF::EProcessingLimitExceeded with {
        $result = $self->result_class('permerror')->new($self, $request, shift->text);
    };
    # Propagate other, unknown errors.
    # This should not happen, but if it does, it helps exposing the bug!
    
    return $result;
}

sub select_record {
    my ($self, $request) = @_;
    
    my $domain   = $request->authority_domain;
    my @versions = $request->versions;
    my $scope    = $request->scope;
    
    # Employ identical behavior for 'v=spf1' and 'spf2.0' records, both of
    # which support SPF (code 99) and TXT type records (this may be different
    # in future revisions of SPF):
    # Query for SPF type records first, then fall back to TXT type records.
    
    my @records;
    my $query_count = 0;
    my @dns_errors;
    
    # Query for SPF-type RRs first:
    if (
        $self->query_rr_types == $self->query_rr_type_all or
        $self->query_rr_types &  $self->query_rr_type_spf
    ) {
        try {
            $query_count++;
            my $packet = $self->dns_lookup($domain, 'SPF');
            push(
                @records,
                $self->get_acceptable_records_from_packet(
                    $packet, 'SPF', \@versions, $scope, $domain)
            );
        }
        catch Mail::SPF::EDNSError with {
            push(@dns_errors, shift);
        };
        #catch Mail::SPF::EDNSTimeout with {
        #    # FIXME Ignore DNS time-outs on SPF type lookups?
        #    # Apparrently some brain-dead DNS servers time out on SPF-type queries.
        #};
    }
    
    # If no usable SPF-type RRs, try TXT-type RRs:
    if (
        not @records and
        (
            $self->query_rr_types == $self->query_rr_type_all or
            $self->query_rr_types &  $self->query_rr_type_txt
        )
    ) {
        # NOTE:
        #   This deliberately violates RFC 4406 (Sender ID), 4.4/3 (4.4.1):
        #   TXT-type RRs are still tried if there _are_ SPF-type RRs but all of
        #   them are inapplicable (i.e. "Hi!", or even "spf2.0/pra" for an
        #   'mfrom' scope request).  This conforms to the spirit of the more
        #   sensible algorithm in RFC 4408 (SPF), 4.5.
        #   Implication:  Sender ID processing may make use of existing TXT-
        #   type records where a result of "None" would normally be returned
        #   under a strict interpretation of RFC 4406.
        
        try {
            $query_count++;
            my $packet = $self->dns_lookup($domain, 'TXT');
            push(
                @records,
                $self->get_acceptable_records_from_packet(
                    $packet, 'TXT', \@versions, $scope, $domain)
            );
        }
        catch Mail::SPF::EDNSError with {
            push(@dns_errors, shift);
        };
    }
    
    @dns_errors < $query_count
        or $dns_errors[0]->throw;
        # Unless at least one query succeeded, re-throw the first DNS error that occurred.
    
    @records
        or throw Mail::SPF::ENoAcceptableRecord(
            "No applicable sender policy available");  # RFC 4408, 4.5/7
    
    # Discard all records but the highest acceptable version:
    my $preferred_record_class = $records[0]->class;
    @records = grep($_->isa($preferred_record_class), @records);
    
    @records == 1
        or throw Mail::SPF::ERedundantAcceptableRecords(
            "Redundant applicable '" . $preferred_record_class->version_tag . "' " .
            "sender policies found");  # RFC 4408, 4.5/6
    
    return $records[0];
}

sub get_acceptable_records_from_packet {
    my ($self, $packet, $rr_type, $versions, $scope, $domain) = @_;
    
    my @versions = sort { $b <=> $a } @$versions;
        # Try higher record versions first.
        # (This may be too simplistic for future revisions of SPF.)
    
    my @records;
    foreach my $rr ($packet->answer) {
        next if $rr->type ne $rr_type;  # Ignore RRs of unexpected type.
        
        my $text = join('', $rr->char_str_list);
        my $record;
        
        # Try to parse RR as each of the requested record versions,
        # starting from the highest version:
        VERSION:
        foreach my $version (@versions) {
            my $class = $self->record_classes_by_version->{$version};
            eval("require $class");
            try {
                $record = $class->new_from_string($text);
            }
            catch Mail::SPF::EInvalidRecordVersion with {};
                # Ignore non-SPF and unknown-version records.
                # Propagate other errors (including syntax errors), though.
            last VERSION if defined($record);
        }
        
        push(@records, $record)
            if  defined($record)
            and grep($scope eq $_, $record->scopes);  # record covers requested scope?
    }
    return @records;
}

sub dns_lookup {
    my ($self, $domain, $rr_type) = @_;
    
    if (UNIVERSAL::isa($domain, 'Mail::SPF::MacroString')) {
        $domain = $domain->expand;
        # Truncate overlong labels at 63 bytes (RFC 4408, 8.1/27):
        $domain =~ s/([^.]{63})[^.]+/$1/g;
        # Drop labels from the head of domain if longer than 253 bytes (RFC 4408, 8.1/25):
        $domain =~ s/^[^.]+\.(.*)$/$1/
            while length($domain) > 253;
    }
    
    $domain =~ s/^(.*?)\.?$/\L$1/;  # Normalize domain.
    
    my $packet = $self->dns_resolver->send($domain, $rr_type);
    
    # Throw DNS exception unless an answer packet with RCODE 0 or 3 (NXDOMAIN)
    # was received (thereby treating NXDOMAIN as an acceptable but empty answer packet):
    $self->dns_resolver->errorstring !~ /^(timeout|query timed out)$/
        or throw Mail::SPF::EDNSTimeout(
            "Time-out on DNS '$rr_type' lookup of '$domain'");
    defined($packet)
        or throw Mail::SPF::EDNSError(
            "Unknown error on DNS '$rr_type' lookup of '$domain'");
    $packet->header->rcode =~ /^(NOERROR|NXDOMAIN)$/
        or throw Mail::SPF::EDNSError(
            "'" . $packet->header->rcode . "' error on DNS '$rr_type' lookup of '$domain'");
    
    return $packet;
}

sub count_dns_interactive_term {
    my ($self, $request) = @_;
    my $dns_interactive_terms_count = ++$request->root_request->state('dns_interactive_terms_count');
    my $max_dns_interactive_terms = $self->max_dns_interactive_terms;
    if (
        defined($max_dns_interactive_terms) and
        $dns_interactive_terms_count > $max_dns_interactive_terms
    ) {
        throw Mail::SPF::EProcessingLimitExceeded(
            "Maximum DNS-interactive terms limit ($max_dns_interactive_terms) exceeded");
    }
    return;
}

sub count_void_dns_lookup {
    my ($self, $request) = @_;
    my $void_dns_lookups_count = ++$request->root_request->state('void_dns_lookups_count');
    my $max_void_dns_lookups = $self->max_void_dns_lookups;
    if (
        defined($max_void_dns_lookups) and
        $void_dns_lookups_count > $max_void_dns_lookups
    ) {
        throw Mail::SPF::EProcessingLimitExceeded(
            "Maximum void DNS look-ups limit ($max_void_dns_lookups) exceeded");
    }
    return;
}

# Make read-only accessors:
__PACKAGE__->make_accessor($_, TRUE)
    foreach qw(
        default_authority_explanation
        hostname
        
        dns_resolver
        query_rr_types
        
        max_dns_interactive_terms
        max_name_lookups_per_term
        max_name_lookups_per_mx_mech
        max_name_lookups_per_ptr_mech
        
        max_void_dns_lookups
    );

TRUE;