Email Authentication

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  1. Email Authentication

Email authentication is a suite of techniques used to verify that an email message genuinely comes from the stated sender and hasn't been altered during transit. In the context of a MediaWiki installation, robust email authentication is crucial for several reasons: ensuring system emails (password resets, notifications, etc.) are delivered reliably, preventing email spoofing that could be used for phishing attacks against users, and maintaining the overall security and trustworthiness of the wiki. This article provides a comprehensive overview of email authentication for beginners, covering the key technologies, configuration steps, and potential troubleshooting areas relevant to MediaWiki administrators.

Why Email Authentication Matters

Without proper email authentication, it's relatively easy for malicious actors to forge the "From" address in an email. This allows them to send emails that *appear* to be from legitimate sources, like the wiki itself, potentially tricking users into revealing sensitive information (usernames, passwords) or performing unwanted actions.

Here’s a breakdown of the key risks:

  • Phishing Attacks: Spoofed emails can mimic legitimate login requests or notifications, directing users to fake websites designed to steal credentials.
  • Account Takeover: Successful phishing can lead to unauthorized access to wiki accounts.
  • Reputation Damage: If your wiki's emails are used in spam or phishing campaigns, your wiki's domain can be blacklisted, impacting deliverability.
  • Service Disruption: Email service providers (ESPs) like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook are increasingly strict about accepting emails from unauthenticated sources. Unauthenticated emails may be filtered as spam or rejected outright, leading to users not receiving important notifications from your wiki. This is particularly problematic for User rights management and Special:Emailuser functionality.

The Core Technologies

Three primary technologies underpin modern email authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Understanding each of these is essential for configuring effective email security.

1. Sender Policy Framework (SPF)

SPF is a DNS record that specifies which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. It essentially creates a "whitelist" of permitted sending sources. When an email is received, the receiving mail server checks the SPF record to verify that the email originated from an authorized server.

  • How it Works: You publish an SPF record in your domain's DNS settings. This record lists the IP addresses or hostnames of the servers that are allowed to send emails from your domain. A typical SPF record might look like this:
   `v=spf1 mx include:_spf.google.com ~all`
   *   `v=spf1`: Specifies the SPF version.
   *   `mx`: Allows servers listed in your domain's MX (Mail Exchange) records to send emails.
   *   `include:_spf.google.com`: Includes the SPF record for Google Workspace, allowing Google's servers to send emails on your behalf if you use Google for email.
   *   `~all`: Indicates a "soft fail." Emails from servers not listed in the SPF record are accepted but marked as potentially suspicious.  `-all` represents a "hard fail," meaning emails from unauthorized sources should be rejected.  Using `-all` is generally recommended *after* you are confident that your SPF record is configured correctly.
  • MediaWiki Implications: MediaWiki often sends emails using the server's `sendmail` command or a configured SMTP server. Your SPF record must include the IP address or hostname of your wiki server (if it's sending emails directly) or the SMTP server that MediaWiki is configured to use (using `$wgSMTP` settings in Manual:Configuration settings).
  • Resources:
   *   [SPF Record Generator](https://www.spfwizard.net/)
   *   [SPF Documentation](https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc7208.txt)
   *   [SPF Record Testing](https://mxtoolbox.com/spf.aspx)

2. DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM)

DKIM adds a digital signature to email messages, allowing the receiving mail server to verify that the email hasn't been tampered with during transit and that it truly originated from the claimed sender. The signature is created using cryptographic keys, and the public key is published in your domain's DNS records.

  • How it Works:
   1.  The sending mail server uses a private key to create a digital signature of the email message.
   2.  The signature is added to the email header as a DKIM-Signature field.
   3.  The receiving mail server retrieves the corresponding public key from your domain's DNS record.
   4.  The receiving server uses the public key to verify the signature. If the signature is valid, it confirms the email's authenticity and integrity.
  • MediaWiki Implications: Setting up DKIM typically involves configuring your mail server (e.g., Postfix, Sendmail, Exim) to sign outgoing emails. MediaWiki itself doesn't directly handle DKIM signing; it relies on the underlying mail server. The configuration details will vary depending on your mail server software. You’ll need to generate a key pair (private and public) and add the public key as a TXT record to your DNS.
  • Resources:
   *   [DKIM Support](https://www.dkim.org/)
   *   [DKIM Documentation](https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc6376.txt)
   *   [DKIM Record Testing](https://mxtoolbox.com/dkim.aspx)
   *   [Postfix DKIM Configuration](https://www.postfix.net/DKIM_README.html)

3. Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC)

DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM, providing a policy for how receiving mail servers should handle emails that fail SPF and/or DKIM checks. It also allows you to receive reports about email authentication failures, helping you identify potential spoofing attempts and refine your email security configuration.

  • How it Works: You publish a DMARC record in your domain's DNS settings. This record specifies:
   *   Policy: How receiving servers should handle emails that fail authentication (e.g., `none`, `quarantine`, `reject`).
   *   Reporting:  Where to send reports about authentication failures.

   A typical DMARC record might look like this:
   `v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com; ruf=mailto:dmarc-forensic@yourdomain.com; adkim=r; aspf=r`
       *   `v=DMARC1`: Specifies the DMARC version.
       *   `p=reject`: Tells receiving servers to reject emails that fail authentication.
       *   `rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com`: Specifies an email address to receive aggregate reports (summarized data about authentication results).
       *   `ruf=mailto:dmarc-forensic@yourdomain.com`: Specifies an email address to receive forensic reports (detailed information about individual authentication failures).
       *   `adkim=r` and `aspf=r`: Specify relaxed alignment for DKIM and SPF respectively.
  • MediaWiki Implications: DMARC is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of SPF and DKIM. By setting a policy of `reject`, you instruct receiving servers to block emails that don't pass authentication, significantly reducing the risk of phishing and spoofing attacks. Analyzing DMARC reports can help you identify misconfigurations or unauthorized email sending sources.
  • Resources:
   *   [DMARC.org](https://dmarc.org/)
   *   [DMARC Documentation](https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc7489.txt)
   *   [DMARC Record Testing](https://mxtoolbox.com/dmarc.aspx)
   *   [DMARC Analyzer](https://dmarcian.com/)

Configuring Email Authentication for MediaWiki

Here's a step-by-step guide to configuring email authentication for your MediaWiki installation:

1. Identify Your Email Sending Sources: Determine all the servers and services that send emails on behalf of your domain. This includes your wiki server, any SMTP servers you use, and any third-party services (e.g., Google Workspace, Mailgun).

2. Configure SPF: Create or update your SPF record in your domain's DNS settings to include all authorized sending sources. Start with a `~all` policy and monitor your email deliverability. Once you are confident that your record is accurate, change it to `-all`.

3. Configure DKIM: Configure your mail server(s) to sign outgoing emails using DKIM. Generate a key pair, add the public key to your DNS records, and test the configuration.

4. Configure DMARC: Create a DMARC record in your domain's DNS settings. Start with a policy of `none` to monitor authentication results without impacting deliverability. Analyze the reports you receive and gradually move to `quarantine` and then `reject` as you gain confidence in your configuration.

5. Verify Configuration: Use online tools (linked above) to verify that your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are configured correctly and that your emails are passing authentication checks.

6. MediaWiki Specific Settings: Ensure your `$wgSMTP` settings in Manual:Configuration settings are correctly configured and align with the servers listed in your SPF record. Also, verify that the `From:` address used by MediaWiki is consistent with your domain.

Troubleshooting Email Authentication Issues

  • Emails are being marked as spam: Check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for errors. Ensure that your sending servers are authorized in your SPF record and that your DKIM signature is valid.
  • DMARC reports show authentication failures: Investigate the failures to identify the source of the problem. It could be a misconfigured SPF or DKIM record, an unauthorized sending source, or an issue with your mail server configuration.
  • Users are not receiving password reset emails: Verify that your SMTP server is configured correctly in MediaWiki and that your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are allowing emails from that server.
  • Incorrect From address: Ensure that the `From:` address in MediaWiki’s settings matches your authenticated domain.

Advanced Considerations

  • Subdomains: If you use subdomains for sending emails, you may need to create separate SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for each subdomain.
  • Third-Party Services: When using third-party email services, follow their specific instructions for configuring email authentication.
  • Email Deliverability Monitoring: Continuously monitor your email deliverability rates to identify and address any issues. Services like [Mail-Tester](https://www.mail-tester.com/) can provide valuable insights.
  • PTR Records: Having a valid PTR (reverse DNS) record for your sending server’s IP address is also recommended for improving deliverability.
  • Feedback Loops: Set up feedback loops with major email providers (e.g., Gmail, Outlook) to receive reports about spam complaints and authentication failures.
  • Technical Analysis of Email Headers: Learning to read email headers can provide valuable clues about authentication issues. Tools like [MXToolbox Header Analyzer](https://mxtoolbox.com/EmailHeaders.aspx) can help.
  • Staying Updated: Email authentication standards and best practices are constantly evolving. Stay informed about the latest developments to ensure your email security remains effective. Consider following security blogs like [Krebs on Security](https://krebsonsecurity.com/) and [The Hacker News](https://thehackernews.com/).
  • Indicators of Compromise (IOCs): Be aware of common IOCs related to email spoofing, such as suspicious sender addresses, unusual email content, and requests for sensitive information. [SANS Institute IOCs](https://www.sans.org/ioc-resources/) provides valuable information.
  • Threat Intelligence Feeds: Integrating with threat intelligence feeds can help identify and block malicious email senders. [VirusTotal](https://www.virustotal.com/) is a well-known resource.
  • Security Trends: Keep abreast of current phishing trends and attack vectors. [Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG)](https://www.apwg.org/) provides reports and analysis.
  • Vulnerability Assessments: Regularly conduct vulnerability assessments of your email infrastructure to identify and address potential weaknesses. [NIST Cybersecurity Framework](https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework) offers guidance.
  • Penetration Testing: Consider engaging a security firm to perform penetration testing to simulate real-world attacks and assess your email security posture.
  • Email Security Gateways: Implement an email security gateway to provide advanced threat protection and filtering capabilities.
  • Anomaly Detection: Utilize anomaly detection techniques to identify unusual email patterns that may indicate a security breach.
  • Machine Learning: Leverage machine learning algorithms to improve the accuracy of spam filtering and phishing detection.
  • Behavioral Analysis: Monitor user behavior to identify suspicious activities related to email.
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Implement DLP measures to prevent sensitive information from being leaked via email.
  • Email Encryption: Use email encryption technologies (e.g., TLS, S/MIME) to protect the confidentiality of email messages.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforce MFA for all email accounts to add an extra layer of security.
  • Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits of your email infrastructure and processes.
  • Compliance Regulations: Ensure your email security practices comply with relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
  • Incident Response Plan: Develop and maintain an incident response plan for handling email security breaches.
  • Security Awareness Training: Provide regular security awareness training to users to educate them about phishing and other email-based threats.

By implementing these strategies and staying vigilant, you can significantly enhance the security of your MediaWiki installation and protect your users from email-based attacks.

Special:ListUsers Special:ListGroupRights Manual:Configuration settings Extension:ConfirmEdit Manual:Email_settings Help:Logging in Help:Changing password Help:Emailing users Special:PasswordReset Help:User rights

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