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Q262215: XCON: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol Messages Received with Empty

Article: Q262215
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:5.0,5.0 SP1,5.0 SP2,5.5,5.5 SP1,5.5 SP2,5.5 SP3
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): exc5 exc55 exc5sp1 exc5sp2 exc55sp1 exc55sp2 exc55sp3
Last Modified: 16-JUL-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.0, 5.0 SP1, 5.0 SP2, 5.5, 5.5 SP1, 5.5 SP2, 5.5 SP3 
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SYMPTOMS
========

A recipient may receive a message that contains an empty To line.

CAUSE
=====

This issue can occur if the recipient was selected as a Bcc (blind carbon copy)
recipient.

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

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

The following section of Request for Comments (RFC) 822 describes how messages
that are addressed to Bcc recipients are processed:

  

  4.5.3.  BCC / RESENT-BCC

       This field contains the identity of additional recipients of
       the message. The contents of this field are not included in
       copies of the message sent to the primary and secondary reci-
       pients. Some systems may choose to include the text of the
       "Bcc" field only in the author(s)'s copy, while others may
       also include it in the text sent to all those indicated in the
       "Bcc" list.

This behavior commonly occurs when users send unsolicited commercial e-mail. The
sender enters a valid e-mail address in the To box, and then enters many
recipients that the sender wants to receive the unsolicited e-mail in the Bcc
box.

Additional query words: UCE

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Keywords          : exc5 exc55 exc5sp1 exc5sp2 exc55sp1 exc55sp2 exc55sp3 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbZNotKeyword2 kbExchange500SP1 kbExchange500SP2 kbExchange550SP1 kbExchange550SP2 kbExchange550SP3
Version           : winnt:5.0,5.0 SP1,5.0 SP2,5.5,5.5 SP1,5.5 SP2,5.5 SP3
Issue type        : kbprb

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