SOLVED Invalid HELO name, Reverse DNS does not match SMTP Banner

unigen · Apr 25, 2019

Hi,

Below is the result of this command
exigrep [email protected] /var/log/exim_mainlog

Code:

2019-04-25 04:39:40 1hJWAX-0002fl-Pd ** [email protected] R=dkim_lookuphost T=dkim_remote_smtp H=otherdomain.in [103.21.58.231] X=TLSv1.2:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:256 CV=no: SMTP error from remote mail server after pipelined MAIL FROM:<[email protected]> SIZE=2315: 550 Access denied - Invalid HELO name (See RFC2821 4.1.1.1)

mxtoolbox "Test email server" test for SMTP Banner Check shows Reverse DNS does not match SMTP Banner error.

Reverse DNS, PTR, SPF, DKIM, everything is checked correct.

I'm able to send to gmail but not other domains. How do I fix this?

I have some 15 domains running on Cpanel/WHM VPS server, and while I do have root access, I'm inexperienced with linux commands. Therefore I'm looking for any solution using Cpanel/WHM.

Thank you!

Dips.

cPanelLauren · Apr 25, 2019

Is the hostname of the server the same as the rDNS? Meaning does the Primary IP of the server resolve to the current hostname of the server?

You can find what the rdns is by running something like the following:

Code:

host <IPAddress>

unigen · Apr 26, 2019

Code:

[[email protected] ~]# host 103.125.xxx.xx
xx.xx.125.103.in-addr.arpa domain name pointer sg.example.net.

So this is correct

cPanelLauren · Apr 26, 2019

And when you do the following do you get the IP address of the server?

Code:

dig a sg.example.net +short

unigen · Apr 26, 2019

There's no output to the above command.

Code:

[[email protected] ~]# dig sg.example.net +short
[[email protected] ~]#

I typed the command again and it did give the IP

Code:

 [[email protected] ~]# dig a sg.example.net +short
103.125.xxx.xx

unigen · Apr 26, 2019

I just noticed that something must have changed on the server. I've been struggling with this issue for last 3 days but today the mail does go. Only it lands in the spam/junk folder.

cPanelLauren · Apr 30, 2019

Hi @unigen

I'm really glad to hear that mail is working once more. For the issue with it going to spam you may want to check the advice provided here: How to Keep your Email Out of the Spam Folder - cPanel Knowledge Base - cPanel Documentation

Thanks!

unigen · May 2, 2019

Hi @cPanelLauren

Unfortunately, looks like happiness was temporary. The problem is back, and I have absolutely no idea where the problem lies.

I wish there was a checklist and we could check if all the settings were OK.

I ran the dig command again and this time here are the results:

Code:

[[email protected] ~]# dig a sg.example.net +short
103.125.xxx.xxx

It's the correct IP

cPanelLauren · May 2, 2019

Hi @unigen

Is anything of note added in the exim main log when you attempt to send mail? How many emails are in the exim queue?

Code:

exim -bpc

unigen · May 2, 2019

[[email protected] ~]# exim -bpc
20

cPanelLauren · May 2, 2019

Great and as far as anything noted in the exim logs when attempting to send mail?

unigen · May 2, 2019

If the following offers any insights, here's the output of test run on SMTP Check - Pingability.com:

Code:

DEBUG: getProvider() returning javax.mail.Provider[TRANSPORT,smtp,com.sun.mail.smtp.SMTPTransport,Oracle]
DEBUG SMTP: useEhlo true, useAuth true
DEBUG SMTP: trying to connect to host "mydomain.com", port 25, isSSL false
220-example-vps-sg ESMTP Exim 4.91 #1 Thu, 02 May 2019 15:53:44 +0000
220-We do not authorize the use of this system to transport unsolicited,
220 and/or bulk e-mail.
DEBUG SMTP: connected to host "mydomain.com", port: 25
EHLO localhost
250-example-vps-sg Hello pingability.com [72.249.37.67]
250-SIZE 52428800
250-8BITMIME
250-PIPELINING
250-STARTTLS
250 HELP
DEBUG SMTP: Found extension "SIZE", arg "52428800"
DEBUG SMTP: Found extension "8BITMIME", arg ""
DEBUG SMTP: Found extension "PIPELINING", arg ""
DEBUG SMTP: Found extension "STARTTLS", arg ""
DEBUG SMTP: Found extension "HELP", arg ""
DEBUG SMTP: use8bit false
MAIL FROM:<[email protected]>
550 Access denied - Invalid HELO name (See RFC2821 4.1.1.1)
DEBUG SMTP: got response code 550, with response: 550 Access denied - Invalid HELO name (See RFC2821 4.1.1.1)

RSET
DEBUG SMTP: EOF: [EOF]
DEBUG SMTP: MessagingException while sending, THROW:
com.sun.mail.smtp.SMTPSendFailedException: 550 Access denied - Invalid HELO name (See RFC2821 4.1.1.1)
;
  nested exception is:
    com.sun.mail.smtp.SMTPSenderFailedException: 550 Access denied - Invalid HELO name (See RFC2821 4.1.1.1)

    at com.sun.mail.smtp.SMTPTransport.issueSendCommand(SMTPTransport.java:2358)
    at com.sun.mail.smtp.SMTPTransport.mailFrom(SMTPTransport.java:1823)
    at com.sun.mail.smtp.SMTPTransport.sendMessage(SMTPTransport.java:1300)
    at com.rimuhosting.util.email.EmailDetails.sendEmail(EmailDetails.java:579)
    at com.rimuhosting.util.email.EmailDetails.sendEmail(EmailDetails.java:396)
    at org.apache.jsp.smtptest_jsp._jspService(smtptest_jsp.java:336)
    at org.apache.jasper.runtime.HttpJspBase.service(HttpJspBase.java:70)
    at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:741)
    at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServletWrapper.service(JspServletWrapper.java:476)
    at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.serviceJspFile(JspServlet.java:385)
    at org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.service(JspServlet.java:329)
    at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:741)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:231)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:166)
    at org.apache.tomcat.websocket.server.WsFilter.doFilter(WsFilter.java:53)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:193)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:166)
    at com.rimuhosting.util.webrequest.DoNothingFilter.doFilter(DoNothingFilter.java:94)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:193)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:166)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:200)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:96)
    at org.apache.catalina.authenticator.AuthenticatorBase.invoke(AuthenticatorBase.java:490)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:139)
    at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:92)
    at org.apache.catalina.valves.AbstractAccessLogValve.invoke(AbstractAccessLogValve.java:668)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:74)
    at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:343)
    at org.apache.coyote.ajp.AjpProcessor.service(AjpProcessor.java:394)
    at org.apache.coyote.AbstractProcessorLight.process(AbstractProcessorLight.java:66)
    at org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol$ConnectionHandler.process(AbstractProtocol.java:834)
    at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.NioEndpoint$SocketProcessor.doRun(NioEndpoint.java:1415)
    at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.SocketProcessorBase.run(SocketProcessorBase.java:49)
    at java.base/java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1128)
    at java.base/java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:628)
    at org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.TaskThread$WrappingRunnable.run(TaskThread.java:61)
    at java.base/java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:834)
Caused by: com.sun.mail.smtp.SMTPSenderFailedException: 550 Access denied - Invalid HELO name (See RFC2821 4.1.1.1)

    at com.sun.mail.smtp.SMTPTransport.mailFrom(SMTPTransport.java:1832)
    ... 35 more
QUIT
DEBUG SMTP: EOF: [EOF]

SMTPSenderFailedException: 550 Access denied - Invalid HELO name (See RFC2821 4.1.1.1)

cPanelLauren · May 2, 2019

At this point it may be best to confer with your provider if you don't have root access to the system. They'll be able to investigate items that as a reseller you won't be able to.

Thanks!

unigen · May 2, 2019

I do have root access, just don't know what I'm supposed to do. Following is result of exiqgrep for the domain.

Code:

[[email protected] log]# exiqgrep -r @example.in
perl: warning: Setting locale failed.
perl: warning: Please check that your locale settings:
    LANGUAGE = (unset),
    LC_ALL = (unset),
    LC_CTYPE = "UTF-8",
    LANG = "en_US.UTF-8"
    are supported and installed on your system.
perl: warning: Falling back to a fallback locale ("en_US.UTF-8").

cPanelLauren · May 2, 2019

Hi @unigen

In that case, since it looks like you have more than just issues with sending mail on the server (that error really shouldn't be occurring) I believe it's best you open a ticket with us using the link in my signature. Once open please reply with the Ticket ID here so that we can update this thread with the resolution once the ticket is resolved.

Thanks!

unigen · May 2, 2019

Hi @cPanelLauren,

I have opened a ticket with the ID 12169603.

Thanks!

cPanelLauren · May 2, 2019

Hi @unigen

Great! I'm watching that ticket now and it looks like an analyst is actively working on it. I'll update here when the issue is resolved.

Thanks!

unigen · May 6, 2019

Hi @cPanelLauren,

It took a while but the issue was finally resolved. The culprit was server hostname inconsistency. However, once I changed the hostname using the WHM utility, everything was sorted and there was no error when sending emails.

Thank you!

Jose Luis Silva · May 29, 2019

@cPanelLauren, Hi, i have exactly the same error with mi WHM server, when i login by ssh a long advert about perl locale. Can you sayme what i should do, please? Thanks in advance.

cPanelLauren · May 30, 2019

Hello @Jose Luis Silva

Can you show me an example of the exact error you're receiving?

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SOLVED Invalid HELO name, Reverse DNS does not match SMTP Banner

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