Summary
After updating to a DMARC policy of `p=reject` with Symantec Email Security Cloud, email alignment failures are multifactorial. Issues can arise from Symantec's processing of emails, like URL rewriting for anti-phishing, which breaks DKIM signatures. Tenant-level configurations, errors in SPF/DKIM records, DNS propagation delays, and mismatches between the DKIM signing domain and the 'From:' header also contribute. Furthermore, email forwarding and the strict nature of the `p=reject` policy, potentially causing false positives, play a role. DMARC relies on the correct interaction of SPF and DKIM; any failure in either will lead to a DMARC failure.
Key findings
- Anti-Phishing Interference: Symantec's anti-phishing measures, such as URL rewriting, can invalidate DKIM signatures.
- Tenant Configuration Issues: Tenant-level configurations in Symantec Email Security.cloud may affect DMARC alignment.
- SPF/DKIM Errors: Incorrect SPF or DKIM records are a common cause of DMARC failures.
- DNS Propagation Delays: DNS propagation delays after DMARC record updates can lead to temporary failures.
- Domain Mismatches: Mismatches between the DKIM signing domain and the 'From:' header cause DMARC failures.
- Email Forwarding: Email forwarding can break DMARC if not handled properly.
- Strict `p=reject` Policy: The `p=reject` policy's strict enforcement can result in false positives.
- Symantec processing: Changes in how Symantec Email Security.cloud processes emails after a DMARC policy update to p=reject are often to blame.
Key considerations
- Engage Symantec Support: Escalate the issue to Symantec's support for assistance.
- Check SPF/DKIM Records: Verify and correct SPF and DKIM records.
- Review Symantec Configuration: Examine tenant-level settings in Symantec Email Security.cloud.
- Monitor DMARC Reports: Analyze DMARC reports to identify the root causes of failures.
- Consider Policy Rollback: Temporarily relax the DMARC policy to quarantine to avoid bouncing legitimate emails.
- Check DKIM Domain Alignment: Verify that the domain used for DKIM signing matches the 'From:' header.
- Investigate Forwarding Practices: Ensure email forwarding is handled correctly to preserve DMARC alignment.
What email marketers say
6 marketer opinions
Emails failing DMARC alignment with Symantec Email Security Cloud after updating to a `p=reject` policy can stem from several causes. These include potential tenant-level configurations within Symantec, anti-phishing technologies rewriting URLs, incorrect SPF or DKIM records, DNS propagation delays after updating DMARC records, or DKIM signing domain mismatches.
Key opinions
- Tenant Configuration: Specific tenant-level settings within Symantec Email Security.cloud may be misconfigured, leading to DMARC alignment failures.
- Anti-Phishing Interference: Symantec's anti-phishing technologies, such as URL rewriting, can modify email content and invalidate DKIM signatures, causing DMARC failures.
- Authentication Errors: Errors in SPF or DKIM records, particularly after implementing a `p=reject` policy, can lead to emails failing DMARC checks.
- DNS Propagation: DNS propagation delays after updating DMARC records can result in temporary DMARC alignment issues.
- Domain Mismatch: A mismatch between the DKIM signing domain and the domain in the 'From:' header can cause DMARC failures.
Key considerations
- Escalate to Support: Engage Symantec's support to investigate potential bugs or systems integration issues.
- Review Tenant Settings: Examine the tenant-level configuration within Symantec Email Security.cloud for settings affecting DMARC alignment.
- Verify SPF/DKIM: Thoroughly check SPF and DKIM records for accuracy and completeness.
- Monitor DMARC Reports: Monitor DMARC reports to identify the specific causes of alignment failures and take corrective action.
- Consider Rollback: Temporarily relax the DMARC policy (e.g., to `p=quarantine`) to minimize email delivery disruptions while investigating the issue.
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailGeek Community suggests the issue might stem from a tenant-level configuration within Symantec Email Security.cloud, particularly affecting how it handles DMARC alignment checks. This could be due to specific settings or rules applied at the tenant level that are not correctly processing the updated DMARC policy.
11 Feb 2022 - EmailGeek Community
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks advises the sender to have a friendly recipient escalate the issue through Symantec's support chain, as it might be a bug or systems integration issue.
7 May 2022 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
Emails failing DMARC alignment with Symantec Email Security Cloud after updating to a `p=reject` policy can be attributed to several factors. Anti-phishing technologies rewriting URLs and breaking DKIM, email forwarding practices interfering with authentication, and the strictness of the `p=reject` policy leading to false positives when sender alignment isn't perfect are all potential causes. Understanding the implications of each DMARC policy is critical.
Key opinions
- Anti-Phishing Interference: Anti-phishing technologies in Symantec Email Security Cloud, such as URL rewriting, can invalidate DKIM signatures, causing DMARC failures.
- Email Forwarding Issues: Email forwarding can break DMARC if the forwarding service modifies the email content or doesn't handle DMARC correctly.
- Strict `p=reject` Policy: Using a `p=reject` policy requires perfect sender alignment; otherwise, legitimate emails may be rejected as false positives.
- DMARC Policy impact: The p=reject policy results in bounces whereas p=quarantine results in delivery with potential spam folder placement
Key considerations
- Investigate Anti-Phishing Settings: Check if the recipient's company uses URL rewriting or other anti-phishing technologies and consider misconfigurations that might impact DKIM verification.
- Monitor DMARC Reports: Carefully monitor DMARC reports to identify the reasons for DMARC failures and address any underlying authentication issues.
- Assess Email Forwarding Practices: Evaluate how email forwarding is handled within the organization and ensure it doesn't interfere with DMARC authentication.
- Understand DMARC Implications: Gain a comprehensive understanding of DMARC policies and their potential impact on email delivery before implementing a strict `p=reject` policy.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that setting a DMARC policy to `p=reject` without fully understanding the implications can lead to false positives. Symantec's actions might trigger rejections if the sender's authentication isn't perfectly aligned, and it's crucial to monitor DMARC reports to identify and rectify these issues.
28 Apr 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains why a `p=quarantine` policy results in delivery (with potential spam folder placement), while `p=reject` causes bounces.
13 Jan 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Emails failing DMARC alignment with Symantec Email Security Cloud after a `p=reject` policy update are often due to Symantec's email processing (e.g., URL rewriting) interfering with DKIM signatures, or fundamental SPF/DKIM misconfigurations. The `p=reject` policy enforces strict DMARC compliance, causing rejections when alignment fails, even slightly. DMARC's reliance on proper SPF and DKIM interaction means any failure in either mechanism results in DMARC failure and policy enforcement.
Key findings
- Symantec Processing Interference: Symantec Email Security.cloud may alter emails (e.g., URL rewriting), invalidating DKIM signatures and causing DMARC failures.
- Strict `p=reject` Enforcement: The `p=reject` policy strictly enforces DMARC, causing rejection of emails failing alignment, even with minor issues.
- SPF/DKIM Dependency: DMARC relies on the proper functioning and alignment of SPF and DKIM; any failure in either mechanism results in DMARC failure.
- Authentication Alignment Modes: A strict alignment mode for SPF and DKIM, combined with even slight authentication failures, will trigger DMARC rejections.
Key considerations
- Investigate Symantec Processing: Examine how Symantec Email Security.cloud processes outgoing emails and whether it interferes with DKIM signatures.
- Verify SPF/DKIM Configuration: Carefully check SPF and DKIM records for correct syntax, proper domain alignment, and completeness.
- Review Alignment Modes: Understand the alignment modes for SPF and DKIM and adjust them according to the sender's authentication setup.
- Monitor DMARC Reports: Utilize DMARC reports to identify the specific causes of alignment failures and take corrective actions.
Technical article
Documentation from DMARC.org highlights that a `p=reject` policy instructs receiving mail servers to reject emails that fail DMARC checks. If the emails are genuinely failing alignment, this setting will cause bounces. Incorrect configurations or issues with email authentication (SPF/DKIM) are primary causes.
4 Mar 2023 - DMARC.org
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft support explains the importance of checking SPF and DKIM alignment modes. If the alignment is set to 'strict' but is failing even slightly, it will lead to a DMARC failure and a reject action based on the policy.
25 Dec 2024 - Microsoft
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