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Troubleshooting unexpected SpamHaus CSS listings and delisting confirmation email issues

Summary

Recent unexpected Spamhaus CSS listings and issues with delisting confirmation emails prompted investigation among email marketers. It was confirmed that a temporary Spamhaus database issue led to an increase in CSS listings, which were later cleared. Concurrently, many users experienced delays or failure to receive delisting confirmation emails, an issue acknowledged and investigated by Spamhaus, likely due to high request volumes. The CSS list itself targets IPs involved in 'snowshoe spam,' often dynamic or residential addresses, and listings typically clear automatically within 24 hours if the spamming activity ceases. Therefore, while a system anomaly was at play, the general best practice remains: always prioritize identifying and stopping the root cause of any spamming activity on your network or accounts before attempting delisting. Troubleshooting confirmation email issues involves checking spam folders, verifying submission details, and inspecting internal mail security.

Key findings

  • Spamhaus Database Issue: An expert from Spamhaus confirmed a database issue that caused an increase in CSS listings, which were subsequently cleared. This temporary anomaly led to what appeared to be false positives for many senders.
  • Delisting Email Delays: There were widespread reports and an acknowledgment from Spamhaus of significant delays or non-receipt of delisting confirmation emails. This was attributed to a high volume of requests and system investigation.
  • CSS Listing Criteria: The Spamhaus CSS list primarily targets compromised devices, networks, or dynamic/residential IP addresses involved in 'snowshoe spam' operations, which distribute spam across many IPs to evade detection.
  • Temporary Nature of CSS: CSS listings are often for dynamic IPs and are typically removed automatically within 24 hours if the spamming activity ceases, emphasizing that stopping the source of the spam is the primary resolution.
  • Assumption of Underlying Issue: While a specific database issue caused a spike in false positives, the general consensus is that new CSS listings usually indicate an underlying deliverability problem related to sending practices or a compromised system, and false positives are otherwise rare.

Key considerations

  • Root Cause Resolution: Before attempting delisting, thoroughly investigate and eliminate the source of the spam or suspicious activity. This could be due to server misconfigurations, compromised accounts, malware, or poor sending practices, as delisting without resolving the root cause will likely result in re-listing.
  • Confirmation Email Troubleshooting: If delisting confirmation emails are not received, first check spam or junk folders, verify the accuracy of the email address provided, and ensure your own mail server or security solutions are not blocking incoming mail from Spamhaus domains. Temporarily relaxing internal spam filters might also help.
  • DNS and IP Configuration: Verify that your EHLO matches the IP's PTR record. For residential users with dynamic IPs, rebooting the router to obtain a new IP address can be a quick solution for CSS listings, as these IPs are often temporary.
  • Leverage ESP Support: If you are using an Email Service Provider, contact their support team for assistance, as they often manage IP reputation and have specialized tools and processes for handling blacklistings.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Utilize comprehensive IP reputation tools to check for listings on Spamhaus CSS and other major blacklists. Monitor your IP's status consistently, especially after delisting, to prevent future issues.
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What email marketers say

14 marketer opinions

Addressing Spamhaus CSS listings and related delisting confirmation email challenges often requires a multi-faceted approach. While recent reports highlighted an increase in CSS listings due to a temporary database issue and delays in receiving confirmation emails, experts consistently emphasize that true false positives are rare. Most CSS listings indicate an underlying problem, such as server misconfigurations, compromised accounts, or poor sending practices. The CSS list itself frequently targets IPs involved in 'snowshoe spam,' often dynamic or residential addresses, which typically clear automatically within 24 hours if the spamming activity ceases. When confirmation emails are not received, a comprehensive check of spam folders, email address accuracy, and internal mail security systems is crucial. The primary directive for any sender is to diligently identify and rectify the root cause of the spamming activity on their network or accounts, as attempting delisting without addressing the source will likely lead to re-listing.

Key opinions

  • False Positive Rarity: Experts agree that legitimate false positives for Spamhaus CSS listings are uncommon; thus, a listing typically signals an underlying deliverability issue related to sender practices or a compromised system.
  • Ticket Status Visibility: Although automated delisting confirmation emails may not be received, the status of submitted tickets is usually viewable directly within Spamhaus's reputation portal dashboard.
  • Adjusted Threshold Impact: An increase in CSS listings might stem from Spamhaus tweaking their blocking thresholds, potentially coinciding with scheduled system maintenance.

Key considerations

  • Resolve Root Cause First: Before initiating any delisting requests, thoroughly investigate and eliminate the source of the spam or suspicious activity, such as server misconfigurations, malware infections, compromised accounts, or poor list hygiene, as unresolved issues will result in re-listing.
  • Residential IP Solutions: For users with dynamic residential IP addresses, a quick resolution for CSS listings often involves rebooting the router to acquire a new IP; otherwise, patience for automatic delisting within 24 hours if the IP remains clean.
  • Confirm Email Troubleshooting: If Spamhaus delisting confirmation emails are delayed or missing, meticulously check spam or junk folders, verify the accuracy of the email address provided during the request, and inspect your own mail server logs, internal mail filters, firewalls, or email security appliances for blocked or quarantined messages.
  • DNS Configuration Importance: Ensure proper reverse DNS (rDNS) configuration, where your IP address resolves correctly to a hostname that matches forward DNS records, as this is fundamental for overall email deliverability and reputation, potentially assisting in delisting or preventing future problems.
  • Comprehensive Reputation Check: Utilize comprehensive IP reputation tools to check for listings on Spamhaus CSS and any other major blacklists simultaneously, as listings on multiple lists suggest a more widespread and severe underlying spamming issue requiring immediate attention.
  • ESP Collaboration: If operating through an Email Service Provider (ESP), contact their support team immediately for assistance, as they are often responsible for managing IP reputation and have established processes for blacklisting incidents.
  • EHLO and PTR Alignment: Verify that your mail server's EHLO command matches the IP address's PTR (pointer) record to ensure proper server identification, which is a key factor in how mail servers and anti-spam systems evaluate your outgoing mail.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks responds that assuming listings are unjustified is a bad starting point and that false positives are rare. She suggests checking for server misconfigurations, hitting traps, verifying EHLO matches the IP's PTR record, and checking SpamHaus's reputation page in addition to the listing page.

3 Feb 2023 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that an increase in CSS listings might be due to a tweaked threshold for landing on the CSS blocklist, potentially correlated with scheduled maintenance.

9 Aug 2023 - Email Geeks

What the experts say

3 expert opinions

Building on discussions about recent Spamhaus CSS listings and delisting email challenges, it has been confirmed that a temporary database issue at Spamhaus led to an increase in CSS listings, which were promptly cleared. Concurrently, delays in receiving delisting confirmation emails were acknowledged and are being investigated, with users advised to consult status pages for updates. Experts reiterate that the CSS list primarily targets IP addresses engaged in 'snowshoe spam,' a tactic using many IPs for small volumes of unsolicited mail, and such listings are typically dynamic, clearing automatically once the underlying spamming ceases. This reinforces the paramount importance of identifying and halting the source of any problematic sending activity. Furthermore, the difficulty in receiving delisting confirmation emails is a recognized issue, often due to misdirection to spam folders or system delays, highlighting the need for thorough checking of all mailboxes.

Key opinions

  • Database Anomaly Confirmed: Spamhaus officially acknowledged a database problem caused a surge in CSS listings, which have since been resolved.
  • Confirmation Email Investigation: Delays and non-receipt of delisting confirmation emails are a known, ongoing issue being actively investigated by Spamhaus.
  • Snowshoe Spam Targeting: The CSS list specifically targets IP addresses involved in 'snowshoe spamming,' a tactic to evade detection through distributed low-volume spam.
  • Dynamic Listing Nature: CSS listings are inherently dynamic and are typically removed automatically within a day or so once the problematic sending activity stops.
  • Common Email Delivery Hiccup: Receiving delisting confirmation emails is frequently hampered by the email landing in spam folders or general system delays.

Key considerations

  • Cease Problematic Sending: The most effective resolution for a Spamhaus CSS listing is to immediately identify and stop any activity contributing to spam, as listings often clear automatically afterward.
  • Thorough Inbox Checks: Always check all mail folders, including spam or junk, for critical delisting confirmation emails, as they are frequently misrouted.
  • Monitor Spamhaus Status: Consult Spamhaus's official status page for real-time updates on system-wide issues affecting listings or email delivery.
  • Sender's Own Deliverability: Recognize that pre-existing deliverability problems on your end can paradoxically hinder the receipt of essential communications, like delisting confirmations.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks (SpamHaus representative) states that SpamHaus rules are updated daily and initially reported no spike in false positives, offering to assist with ticket numbers. Later, they provide an update confirming a database issue caused increased CSS listings, stating all affected listings were cleared during the outage timeframe. They also acknowledge and are investigating delays in confirmation emails, advising the status page for resolution updates.

24 Oct 2023 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Spamhaus CSS is designed to list IP addresses involved in "snowshoe spamming," where spammers use many different IP addresses to send small volumes of spam and evade detection. She clarifies that CSS listings are dynamic and typically removed automatically once the underlying spamming activity ceases, meaning the primary troubleshooting step is to stop sending spam.

22 Jul 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

5 technical articles

The Spamhaus CSS list targets IP addresses, often dynamic or residential, associated with 'snowshoe spam' or compromised devices sending unsolicited mail. These listings are frequently temporary, with automatic expiration possible within 24 hours if the spamming activity ceases or the IP changes. While a self-service delisting tool is available, the paramount step for any sender is to thoroughly investigate and eliminate the source of outgoing spam before requesting removal, as failure to do so will result in immediate re-listing. For issues with receiving delisting confirmation emails, checking spam and junk folders, verifying the submitted email address, and ensuring your own mail server isn't blocking Spamhaus communications are vital steps. Notably, Spamhaus CSS delisting primarily relies on the cessation of the spamming activity itself, rather than requiring specific 'proof' of cleanup, as their systems detect the absence of problematic traffic.

Key findings

  • Snowshoe Spam Targeting: The CSS list specifically targets IP addresses, often dynamic or residential, that are involved in 'snowshoe spam' operations or are compromised sources of spam.
  • Automatic Expiry Potential: CSS listings, particularly for dynamic IPs, can automatically expire within 24 hours if the associated spamming activity ceases.
  • Cessation-Based Delisting: Unlike some other blacklists, Spamhaus CSS removal largely relies on the detected cessation of spamming activity from the listed IP, without typically requiring explicit cleanup 'proof'.
  • Confirmation Email Checklist: If delisting confirmation emails are not received, senders must verify the submitted email address, check all spam/junk folders, and ensure their receiving mail server isn't blocking Spamhaus.

Key considerations

  • Pre-Delisting Root Cause: The most critical step is to identify and entirely eliminate the source of outgoing spam or suspicious network activity before submitting any delisting request.
  • Risk of Re-listing: Failure to resolve the underlying cause of spamming will inevitably lead to the IP address being re-listed on Spamhaus CSS.
  • Post-Delisting Monitoring: It is essential to continuously monitor the IP's reputation and status after delisting to ensure it remains clean and prevent future incidents.
  • Confirmation Email Verification: If a delisting confirmation email is missing, reconfirm the accuracy of the email address provided during submission, and thoroughly check all spam and junk folders.
  • Server-Side Blocks: Investigate whether your own mail server, firewall, or security systems are inadvertently blocking legitimate incoming emails from Spamhaus.

Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus Project explains that the CSS (Composite Snowshoe) list targets compromised devices or networks and dynamic, residential IP addresses that are being used to send spam. Listing means the IP is associated with known or suspected 'snowshoe spam' operations, which involve distributing spam across a large range of IP addresses to evade detection.

8 Nov 2021 - Spamhaus

Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus Project clarifies that CSS listings are often for dynamic IP addresses and, if the spamming activity ceases or the IP address changes, the listing may expire automatically within 24 hours. For persistent issues, they offer a self-service delisting tool on their website, urging users to ensure no spamming activity is originating from the IP before requesting removal.

17 Oct 2023 - Spamhaus

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