Solve the Doubt in MIME::Lite

gube has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi monks,

I am using MIME::Lite module for the attachments and messages in e-mail concepts in my job. I have some doubts.

1. For single attachment file or image how many MB can we attached using this module any certain limit or through out send mail any limit of attachments please mention.

2. while using this module, Julian Haight noted that MIME::Lite allows you to compose messages with lines in the body consisting of a single ".". This is true: it should be completely harmless so long as "sendmail" is used with the -oi option

-oi Do NOT treat a single "." on a line as a message terminator.

As in, "-oi vey, it truncated my message... why?!"

Regarding the above statement he refer to use Net::SMTP module. Is using this module is not safe or anyother bugs in this module ?.

If is it anyother module for e-mail solution better than these means please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

s,,aaagzas3uzttazs444ss12b3a222aaaamkyae,s,,y,azst1-4mky,,d&&print

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Re: Solve the Doubt in MIME::Lite by davido (Cardinal) on May 18, 2005 at 08:32 UTC
First things first. This comes up frequently here... "doubt" has the connotation of skepticism, or mild disbelief. "question" means query, request for clarification, etc. You don't need a doubt solved, you need a question resolved. Now on to the questions ... at least the ones I can answer... From what I can tell, MIME::Lite imposes no artificial limitations on the size of individual attachments. However, given the fact that most mailboxes have their own system administrator imposed capacity limits, common sense will dictate that attachments be kept to a reasonable size. What constitutes "reasonable size" is somewhat of a moving target. Over time, mailbox size policies seem to grow more generous, and the proliferation of broadband connectivity makes it easier for people to download large messages. Nevertheless, it makes sense to keep attachment sizes as small as practical. If you find that you need to send truely massive files, consider another approach; FTP for example. When sendmail is used as the mail transport, and when it is configured without the -oi option, a single '.' on a line can act as the message terminator. I believe this can expose a security problem. That is why the module's POD is alerting you to the danger of a poorly configured MTA, and recommends the -oi option be used with sendmail. The module itself is as safe as the configuration of the system on which it's being used. Dave	[reply]

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Re: Solve the Doubt in MIME::Lite
by davido (Cardinal) on May 18, 2005 at 08:32 UTC

First things first. This comes up frequently here... "doubt" has the connotation of skepticism, or mild disbelief. "question" means query, request for clarification, etc. You don't need a doubt solved, you need a question resolved.

Now on to the questions ... at least the ones I can answer...

From what I can tell, MIME::Lite imposes no artificial limitations on the size of individual attachments. However, given the fact that most mailboxes have their own system administrator imposed capacity limits, common sense will dictate that attachments be kept to a reasonable size. What constitutes "reasonable size" is somewhat of a moving target. Over time, mailbox size policies seem to grow more generous, and the proliferation of broadband connectivity makes it easier for people to download large messages. Nevertheless, it makes sense to keep attachment sizes as small as practical.
If you find that you need to send truely massive files, consider another approach; FTP for example.
When sendmail is used as the mail transport, and when it is configured without the -oi option, a single '.' on a line can act as the message terminator. I believe this can expose a security problem. That is why the module's POD is alerting you to the danger of a poorly configured MTA, and recommends the -oi option be used with sendmail. The module itself is as safe as the configuration of the system on which it's being used.

Dave

[reply]