[TriLUG] Sendmail question: Data Format Error

[Paul G. Szabady]

Greetings,

Every now and then, I see the following error in my maillogs from a
legitimate sender at AOL.  (I know, that sounds like an oxymoron, but....)


Jan 27 12:04:48 at sendmail[2501]: ruleset=check_relay,
arg1=imo-m17.mx.aol.com, arg2=64.12.138.207, relay=imo-m17.mx.aol.com
[64.12.138.207], reject=553 5.3.0 OK # AOL


This results in a message back to the sender, similar to the one shown
below.  (...and always AOL)  The IP address isn't in any RBLs that I've
checked.

I'm running: sendmail-8.12.11-4.6 on FC2 with a number of RBLs and
milter-gris.  Any thoughts?



---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Returned mail: Data format error
From:    "Mail Delivery Subsystem" <MAILER-DAEMON at aol.com>
Date:    Fri, January 27, 2006 12:04 pm
To:      <changed for privacy>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The original message was received at Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:04:36 -0500 (EST)
from root at localhost


*** ATTENTION ***

Your e-mail is being returned to you because there was a problem with its
delivery.  The address which was undeliverable is listed in the section
labeled: "----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----".

The reason your mail is being returned to you is listed in the section
labeled: "----- Transcript of Session Follows -----".

The line beginning with "<<<" describes the specific reason your e-mail
could not be delivered.  The next line contains a second error message
which is a general translation for other e-mail servers.

Please direct further questions regarding this message to the e-mail
administrator or Postmaster at that destination.

--AOL Postmaster



   ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<changed for privacy>

   ----- Transcript of session follows -----
... while talking to <changed for privacy>.:
>>> MAIL From:<changed for privacy>
<<< 553 5.3.0 OK # AOL
501 <changed for privacy>... Data format error
Final-Recipient: RFC822; <changed for privacy>
Action: failed
Status: 5.1.3
Remote-MTA: DNS; <changed for privacy>
Diagnostic-Code: SMTP; 553 5.3.0 OK # AOL
Last-Attempt-Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:04:48 -0500 (EST)


-- 
Paul
@ Thy Service