Cisco PIX Software Causes Strange Content in SMTP Messages

ID: Q197183

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SUMMARY

Cisco's PIX software, which acts as a firewall, has a bug where it will convert some SMTP content to a string of XXXXXXXXXXs. This problem is known to Cisco.

Here is an excerpt from Cisco's bug report:


    Bug Id : CSCdk46673
   > Headline    PIX 4.2(2) - fixup smtp trashes E-mail when NOOP is issued
   >
   > Product    pix    Model
   > Component   pix-app   Duplicate of    </cgi-
      bin/bugtool/onebug.pl?bugid=>
   >
   > Severity    2    Status  </kobayashi/releases/bugstate.html>   R
   >
   > Version Found    4.2(2)    Fixed-in Version    4.2(3)
   > Release Notes In PIX 4.2(2), when a NOOP is issued by an SMTP server
   > behind a PIX when the fixup smtp command is enabled, portions of the
   > E-mail will be replaced by a series of ''X''s, which may render the
   > resulting message unreadable.

Cisco has a supported fix for this issue; contact Cisco to obtain it.

MORE INFORMATION

PIX Firewalls are manufactured by Cisco, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: Cisco PIX SMTP XXX


Keywords          : 
Version           : WINNT:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: May 5, 1999