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Q197183: XFOR: Cisco PIX Software Causes Strange Content in SMTP Msgs

Article: Q197183
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbfixlist
Last Modified: 08-APR-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5 
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SUMMARY
=======

Administrators of the Microsoft Exchange Internet Mail Service (IMS) may notice
SMTP content that once passed through a Cisco 'PIX' router, contains strings of
'XXXXXXXXXX's.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The issue is associated with Cisco bug # CSCDK46673. Cisco has a fix available.

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.

Additional query words: Cisco PIX SMTP XXX

======================================================================
Keywords          :  kbfixlist
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbinfo
Solution Type     : kbfix

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