Messages autoforwarded to an invalid internet address appear to create a looping message in Exchange

Messages appear to be looping between Exchange Server and the Internet through the Internet Mail Service.

Messages autoforwarded to an invalid Internet address appear to create a looping message.

Exchange Server 5.5

A feature has been added to Exchange Server 5.5 to prevent autoforward rules from running against any message that contains an empty RFC 821 FROM field. To enable this new feature on a mailbox server, add the Disable Auto Forward On Empty RFC821From registry value and set the value to 1.

To set this value:

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate and click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersPrivate
3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following entry:
   Value name: Disable Auto Forward On Empty RFC821From
   Data type: REG_DWORD
   Value data: 1 or 0 (default=0)
   
   1 disable auto forward
   0 enable auto forward
4. Click OK.
5. Quit Registry Editor.
6. Restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.

The feature is included in an information store fix that also requires directory build 2600 or later. This feature is available in the latest service pack for Exchange Server version 5.5. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The English version of this feature should have the following file attributes or later:

Component: Information Store


This feature was first included in Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack 3.

Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 2003

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate and click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersPrivate
3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following entry:
   Value name: Disable Auto Forward On Empty RFC821From
   Data type: REG_DWORD
   Value data: 1 or 0 (default=0)
   
   1 disable auto forward
   0 enable auto forward
4. Click OK.
5. Quit Registry Editor.
6. Restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.

Exchange Server 2007

In Exchange 2007, add the Disable Auto Forward On Empty RFC821From registry entry, and set a transport rule to prevent autoforward rules from running against any message that contains an empty RFC 821 FROM field. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Mailbox server, start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersPrivate
3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following entry:
   
   Value name: Disable Auto Forward On Empty RFC821From
   Data type: REG_DWORD
   Value data: 1 or 0 (default=0, 1=disable auto forward, 0=enable auto forward)
4. Click OK.
5. Exit Registry Editor.
6. Retart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.
7. Open Exchange Management Console.
8. Go to [Organization Configuration]-[Hub Transport].
9. Under Action, click New Transport Rule.
10. Enter the rule name, and click Next.
11. Under Conditions, select when the From address contains specific words under Step1.
12. Under Step2, set the following value:
    specific words: MAILER-DAEMON
    Note By setting this value, this transport rule will work for all messages whose sender address contains "MAILER-DAEMON."
13. Click Next under Conditions.
14. Under Actions, select set header with value under Step1.
15. Under Step2, set the following value:
    header : Precedence
    value : bulk
    Note You can set the value to "junk" or "list" as well. All messages with this Precedence value in the Header field will not be autoforwarded by setting the Disable Auto Forward On Empty RFC821From registry entry.
16. Click Next under tthe Actions setting.
17. Leave the default setting as Exceptions, and click Next.
18. Check the configuration summary, and then click New.
19. Confirm the completion, and then click Finish.

Make sure that the autoforwarding rule contains a valid Internet address.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

The registry entries that are mentioned in the "Resolution" section do not work for the Folder Assistant. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: