Spam X-Header Explanations

When an e-mail message matches a DNS black list, included on the Connection Checks page under the Antispam > [select a domain ] > Spam Filtering > Connections Checks, an X-Header line is automatically inserted into the message header to indicate the black list that the message matched.

X-Headers are also inserted when a message fails one of the verification checks set in the Verification Checks options on the Connection Checks page.

All other spam features can be configured to insert X- Headers. These X-Headers indicate the spam filter that trapped the message and information about why the message was trapped. Additionally, the message ID is inserted into the message's X-Header when it is identified as spam. See the examples and a table of all antispam X- Headers below.

X-Header Example 1

X-Header Example 2

X-Header

Explanation

X-IMAIL-SPAM- ADDRBL:(service >,< message id>,< IP address /reason>)

The message matched an ADDR black list.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- DNSBL:(<name of service>,< message ID>, <IP address/reason>)

The message matched a DNS black list.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- HELOBL:(<name of service>,< message ID>,< IP address/reason>)

The message matched a HELO/EHLO black list.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- HELODOMAIN:(<message ID>,< domain name>)

The message failed the HELO/EHLO domain verification.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- INVALIDFROM: (<message ID>, <from address>)

The message contained an invalid "from" address.

X-IMAIL-SPAM-IP4R: (<message ID>, <name of service>)

The message matched an IP4R (PTR) black list.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- STATISTICS:(<message ID>,<spam probability>)

The message has been identified as spam by the statistical filter.

X-IMAIL-SPAM-RHSBL: (<name of service>, <message ID>, <address/reason>)

The message matched an RHS black list.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- PHRASE: (<message ID>, <phrase>)

A phrase in the message matched the phrase list.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- VALFROM:(<message ID>)

The message failed the "MAIL FROM" address verification.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- VALREVDNS:(<message ID>)

The message failed the reverse DNS lookup verification.

X-IMAIL-SPAM- VALHELO

The message failed the HELO/EHLO domain verification.

X-IMAIL-SPAM-HTML- FEATURES:(<message ID>,<found features)

The message contained the specified HTML tags.

X-IMAIL-SPAM-URL- DBL:(<message ID>,<domain>)

The message contained HREF or IMG SRC tags with links to a domain in the URL Domain Black List.

X-IMail-SPAM-Premium

The message contained spam content.

X-IMail-SPAM-SPF- None

The domain did not publish SPF data.

X-IMail-SPAM-SPF- Neutral

The domain published SPF data and returned a "?" value.

X-IMail-SPAM-SPF- Pass

The domain published SPF data and the message met the publishing domain's definition of legitimacy.

X-IMail-SPAM-SPF-Fail

The domain published SPF data and the message did not meet a domain's definition of legitimacy. The message was identified as a forged message by the SPF filter.

X-IMail-SPAM-SPF- Softfail

The domain published SPF data and the message did not meet a domain's strict definition of legitimacy, but the domain cannot confidently state the message is forged. The message was identified as a forged message by the SPF filter.

X-IMail-SPAM-SPF- Error

There was an error during the SPF record lookup and could not correctly interpret the error.

X-IMail-SPAM-SPF- TempError

There was an error during SPF record lookup. For example, the server was up, but it gave an error.

X-IMail-Broken-Mime- Header

The message included a broken MIME header.

X-IMAIL-Attachment- Blocked

The message included a file attachment type or MIME type that was selected to be blocked.

X-IMAIL-ThreadID: (<message ID>)

Message written to a mailbox includes a ThreadID to simplify tracing the message path through the logs. The ThreadID corresponds to the ID number placed in the syslogs and the number given to corresponding Q and D files.

X-IMAIL-SPAM-CONFIRMED

Premium Antispam Confirmed X-Header for spam messages from known spam sources.

X-IMAIL-SPAM-BULK

Premium Antispam Bulk X-Header for spam messages from sources that are not confirmed spammers.

X-IMAIL-SPAM-SUSPECTED

Premium Antispam Suspected X-Header for legitimate messages that are sent to slightly larger than average distribution or are unidentified spam messages in the first few seconds of a massive spam outbreak.

X-IMAIL-SPAM-UNKNOWN

Premium Antispam Unknown X-Header for messages which Commtouch does not have any incriminating information, and are therefore assumed to represent legitimate correspondence.

X-CTCH-RefID: str=0001.0A01020A.48c14898.006B:SCFSTAT211622a,ss=1,fgs=0

A transaction reference record is added by the IMail Server to the header of every message scanned by Commtouch for technical support purposes.

Related Topics

Using Antispam Logs

Setting Antispam Logging Options

Using IMail Delivery Rules to Filter Spam

Antispam Log Messages

How Black Lists Work