Hi,

As a CPanel user, I was disappointed to learn that one of the latest modifications, includes running a Perl script from Exim to add some email headers, in an attempt to trace the source of spammers.

These new "X-Source" headers added are of the format:

X-Source:
X-Source-Args: /usr/local/apache/bin/httpd -DSSL
X-Source-Dir: /home/username/public_html

where 'username' is the "root/shell" username of the domain.

Whilst I support the idea/concept of doing more to trace the source of spamming (I send any spam to SpamCop, so I do support anti-spam measures), it shoud NEVER be at the expense of security.

Now we have domain login usernames being sent out in emails, not a very intelligent or security conscious modification, on the part of CPanel developers, to say the least. :(

So, .. what has all this to do with Perl ??

Apparently perl is used now to obtain this:

X-Source-Dir: /home/username/public_html

and for obvious security reasons, we would prefer it to be something like this:

X-Source-Dir: /home/"$pid"/public_html

I know the syntax is wrong, but you get my point, I hope. :)

How about using GUID or UID ?? This is on a Linux box. Surely, there must be some way that Perl can identify 'WHO' the spammer is (sourced from the same server), so that the sysadmin person can easily identify the domain on the server, or the 'username' on the server, but represent the username in another format, that only means something to someone with (sysadmin) root access.

Somehow, we need to protect the identity of the username (login username to a domain), yet still be able to find out the source of who is sending out spam on the server.

In summary, can Perl be used to used to trace the source of spamming, but at the same time, does not, in any way, compromise website security.

Peter

In reply to Can the username be represented differently ? by peterr

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