- Mailman-users - lists.mailman3.org

[Mailman-Users] VERP on Mailman 3
by Stephen J. Turnbull Feb. 8, 2026

Feb. 8, 2026

Redirecting to Mailman 3 users <mailman-users(a)mailman3.org>. John Price via Mailman-Users writes: > I attempted to setup VERP on Mailman3 and it doesn't seem to be > changing the sender address. Please explain why you think that. Note: The sender address that is changed is the envelope address. You won't see it in the message headers in most cases. There should be relevant log messages in your MTA log that have the envelope sender as "from=<...sender...>" in the case of Postfix. I forget what Exim4 and Sendmail use. > What else should I provide that will help? - Log entries from Mailman and the MTA pertaining to one or more messages that should have been VERPed. - What is your MTA? - What is the setting for recipient_delimiter (if Postfix, or the equivalent for other MTAs)? - How did you install Mailman? Note that if you installed from Debian packages, the first thing you should do is contact the Debian maintainers for their packages. The rest of this message is preserved from the original post to mailman-users(a)python.org for completeness. Steve > I don't know what the problem is. > > I am using the '_' character for my verp delimiter. This is what I > have been using with mailman2 for about 15 years. It has been > working perfectly. > > I'm using Postfix 3.10.5. > > $ mailman conf | grep verp > [mta] verp_confirm_format: ${address}_${cookie} > [mta] verp_confirm_regexp: ^(.*<)?(?P<addr>[^_]+?)_(?P<cookie>[^@]+)@.*$ > [mta] verp_confirmations: yes > [mta] verp_delimiter: _ > [mta] verp_delivery_interval: 1 > [mta] verp_format: ${bounces}_${local}=${domain} > [mta] verp_personalized_deliveries: yes > [mta] verp_probe_format: ${bounces}_${token}@${domain} > [mta] verp_probe_regexp: ^(?P<bounces>[^_]+?)_(?P<token>[^@]+)@.*$ > [mta] verp_probes: yes > [mta] verp_regexp: ^(?P<bounces>[^_]+?)_(?P<local>[^=]+)=(?P<domain>[^@]+)@.*$ > > $ mailman info > GNU Mailman 3.3.10 (Tom Sawyer) > Python 3.13.5 (main, Jun 25 2025, 18:55:22) [GCC 14.2.0] > config file: /etc/mailman3/mailman.cfg > db url: mysql+pymysql://mm3:blah@localhost/mailman3?charset=utf8&use_unicode=1 > devmode: DISABLED > REST root url: https://localhost:8001/3.1/ > REST credentials: admin:password > > $ cat /etc/debian_version > 13.3 > > TIA, > John -- GNU Mailman consultant (installation, migration, customization) Sirius Open Source https://www.siriusopensource.com/ Software systems consulting in Europe, North America, and Japan

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Expire non-members
by John Price Feb. 8, 2026

Feb. 8, 2026

Is there a way to expire and delete (in mailman3 or via cron) non-members? I've been running mailman3 for a couple of weeks now on a few mailing lists, and on my big list specifically I'm seeing lots of spam to the gcfl-join(a)gcfl.net email alias, which creates these non-members, but they never confirm their subscription, so they remain in non-member limbo. Thank you, John -- Is it my imagination, or do buffalo wings taste like chicken? Have a great day and don't forget to laugh! http://www.gcfl.net (The Good, Clean Funnies List): Good, clean daily funnies you can safely tell your Mom!

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Mailman and Postfix Conflicting Information
by dap1＠bellsouth.net Feb. 7, 2026

Feb. 7, 2026

I've been going in circles between mailman and postfix trying to get things working. My current condition is that either mailman is putting incoming mail in the bit bucket or postfix is not sending incoming mail to mailman. According to the postfix forum my mailman configuration is messed up but it was auto generated by the installer. Supposedly these entries should not be in /opt/mailman/mm/var/data/postfix_lmtp or rather transport_maps and/or local_recipient_maps. # Aliases which are visible only in the @gmail.com domain. lllllllllll(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 lllllllllll-bounces(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 lllllllllll-confirm(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 lllllllllll-join(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 lllllllllll-leave(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 lllllllllll-owner(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 lllllllllll-request(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 lllllllllll-subscribe(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 lllllllllll-unsubscribe(a)gmail.com lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024 And relay_domains shouldn't have this entry either in /opt/mailman/mm/var/data/postfix_domains in relay_domains: gmail.com gmail.com Clearly my postfix configuration is messed up but since this was all auto generated I don't know what to do.

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Issues with Mail delivery after Mailman 3 installation
by Ibiam Chihurumnaya Feb. 7, 2026

Feb. 7, 2026

I finished installing mailman3, setup lmtp and smtp for mail delivery and I followed the instructions on the mailman 3 installation page. Mail delivery doesn't work and the logs show this; Jan 31 12:53:53 lists postfix/lmtp[4131588]: 3B8121A89BD: to=<systems(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, relay=127.0.0.1[127.0.0.1]:24, delay=11119, delays=11072/0.01/0.01/47, dsn=4.3.0, status=deferred (host 127.0.0.1[127.0.0.1] said: 451 4.3.0 <systems(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> Temporary internal error (in reply to RCPT TO command)) 106029 Jan 31 12:53:53 lists postfix/lmtp[4131587]: 052BB1A8975: to=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, orig_to=<mailman>, relay=localhost[127.0.0.1]:24, delay=1432, delays=1385/0.02/0.01/47, dsn=4.3.0, status=deferred (host localhost[127.0.0.1] said: 451 4.3.0 <mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> Temporary internal error (in reply to RCPT TO command)) Jan 31 12:53:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(4131586): Disconnect from 127.0.0.1: Logged out (state=READY) Jan 31 12:53:53 lists postfix/local[4131582]: F2DB61A8952: passing <mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> to transport=lmtp Jan 31 12:53:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(4131590): Disconnect from 127.0.0.1: Logged out (state=READY) Jan 31 12:53:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(4131589): Disconnect from 127.0.0.1: Logged out (state=READY) Jan 31 12:53:53 lists postfix/local[4131584]: D172A1A8A0E: passing <mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> to transport=lmtp Jan 31 12:53:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(4131586): Connect from 127.0.0.1 Jan 31 12:53:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(4131589): Connect from 127.0.0.1 Jan 31 12:53:54 lists postfix/lmtp[4128841]: connect to localhost[::1]:24: Connection refused Jan 31 12:53:54 lists postfix/lmtp[4128840]: connect to localhost[::1]:24: Connection refused Jan 31 12:53:54 lists postfix/lmtp[4128841]: 348981A8A2A: to=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, orig_to=<mailman>, relay=none, delay=113, delays=0.04/52/61/0, dsn=4.4.1, status=deferred (connect to localhost[::1]:24: Connection refused) Jan 31 12:53:54 lists postfix/lmtp[4128840]: 5382D1A8A27: to=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, orig_to=<mailman>, relay=none, delay=173, delays=0.02/111/61/0, dsn=4.4.1, status=deferred (connect to localhost[::1]:24: Connection refused) Jan 31 12:53:56 lists dovecot: lmtp(4128842): Disconnect from 127.0.0.1: Connection closed (state=READY) Jan 31 12:53:56 lists dovecot: lmtp(4127392): Disconnect from 127.0.0.1: Connection closed (state=READY) Jan 31 12:54:02 lists postfix/pickup[4131579]: 1D3E71A8A1C: uid=1005 from=<mailman> Jan 31 12:54:02 lists postfix/cleanup[4131852]: 1D3E71A8A1C: message-id=<20260131205402.1D3E71A8A1C(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> Jan 31 12:54:02 lists postfix/qmgr[4131580]: 1D3E71A8A1C: from=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, size=919, nrcpt=1 (queue active) Jan 31 12:54:53 lists dovecot: auth: Fatal: passdb passwd-file: Missing args Jan 31 12:54:53 lists dovecot: master: Error: service(auth): command startup failed, throttling for 60.000 secs Jan 31 12:54:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org)<4131586><qMl1NuFrfmkCCz8AOj1W/w>: Error: auth-master: userdb lookup(mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org): Disconnected unexpectedly Jan 31 12:54:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(4131586): Error: lmtp-server: conn 127.0.0.1:56008 [2]: rcpt mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org: Failed to lookup user mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. Jan 31 12:54:53 lists postfix/lmtp[4131585]: F2DB61A8952: host localhost[127.0.0.1] said: 451 4.3.0 <mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> Temporary internal error (in reply to RCPT TO command) Jan 31 12:54:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org)<4131589><kJd+NuFrfmkFCz8AOj1W/w>: Error: auth-master: userdb lookup(mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org): Disconnected unexpectedly Jan 31 12:54:53 lists dovecot: lmtp(4131589): Error: lmtp-server: conn 127.0.0.1:56014 [2]: rcpt mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org: Failed to lookup user mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. Jan 31 12:54:53 lists postfix/lmtp[4131588]: D172A1A8A0E: host localhost[127.0.0.1] said: 451 4.3.0 <mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> Temporary internal error (in reply to RCPT TO command) Jan 31 12:54:53 lists postfix/lmtp[4131585]: connect to localhost[::1]:24: Connection refused Jan 31 12:54:53 lists postfix/lmtp[4131588]: connect to localhost[::1]:24: Connection refused Jan 31 12:54:53 lists postfix/lmtp[4131585]: F2DB61A8952: to=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, orig_to=<mailman>, relay=none, delay=1492, delays=1385/47/60/0, dsn=4.4.1, status=deferred (connect to localhost[::1]:24: Connection refused) Jan 31 12:54:53 lists postfix/lmtp[4131588]: D172A1A8A0E: to=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, orig_to=<mailman>, relay=none, delay=591, delays=484/47/60/0, dsn=4.4.1, status=deferred (connect to localhost[::1]:24: Connection refused) Jan 31 12:54:53 lists postfix/local[4131582]: D92311A8A17: passing <mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> to transport=lmtp Jan 31 12:54:53 lists postfix/local[4131584]: D52231A8A1A: passing <mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> to transport=lmtp Jan 31 12:55:02 lists postfix/pickup[4131579]: 019161A8A2C: uid=1005 from=<mailman> Jan 31 12:55:02 lists postfix/cleanup[4131852]: 019161A8A2C: message-id=<20260131205502.019161A8A2C(a)lists.sugarlabs.org> Jan 31 12:55:02 lists postfix/qmgr[4131580]: 348981A8A2A: from=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, size=919, nrcpt=1 (queue active) Jan 31 12:55:02 lists postfix/qmgr[4131580]: 019161A8A2C: from=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, size=919, nrcpt=1 (queue active) Jan 31 12:55:02 lists postfix/qmgr[4131580]: 5382D1A8A27: from=<mailman(a)lists.sugarlabs.org>, size=919, nrcpt=1 (queue active) Jan 31 12:55:18 lists postfix/smtpd[4132212]: fatal: open dictionary: expecting "type:name" form instead of "dovecot" I setup lmtp with dovecot, and I have this in dovecot.conf; passdb passwd-file { driver = passwd-file } I also have these set in postfix main.cf; lmtp_sender_dependent_authentication = yes lmtp_sasl_auth_enable = yes lmtp_sasl_password_maps = hash:path_to_passwd_file I'm wondering if I need to disable sasl because I set dovecot not to use ssl because lmtp is only running internally.

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Permissions Error on /var/mail/mailman
by dap1＠bellsouth.net Feb. 5, 2026

Feb. 5, 2026

I am going in circles between postfix issues and mailman. However, before I continue with postfix debugging I want to resolve this first as it may be related for all I know. I'm getting this error in the postfix mail log: 2026-02-01T11:00:10.106626-05:00 dap002 postfix/local[113730]: 01623500076: to=<mailman(a)myhost.localdomain>, orig_to=<mailman>, relay=local, delay=0.16, de lays=0.11/0.01/0/0.04, dsn=5.2.0, status=bounced (cannot update mailbox /var/mail/mailman for user mailman. cannot open file: Permission denied) I'm not sure why mailman is trying to write to that file but it is owned by root:mail. It is obvious why permission is denied to mailman. Is that directory really part of mailman3 and if so what should ownership and permissions be? If not then why is mailman trying to write to it? That path does not appear in any of the files in /etc/mailman3.

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Is there an option to "disable" a list temporarily? (feature request?!)
by Christian Schneider Feb. 4, 2026

Feb. 4, 2026

Hello dear Mailman Team, I scanned through the web interface of my mailman instance... and I did not find an option to disable a list temporarily ("sending" and "access to web interface")... This might come in handy when a list is abused for sending spams or when a list owner wants his/her list to be removed... Instead of removing the list instantly I would disable it for three months first... (You never know with users... ;-) ) Preferably I would backup the list (settings and members) and the archives, but as seen in the discussion there is actually no backup mechanism for lists... Is there an option to disable a list (except from resetting passwords and remove/disable mail aliases)? If not I'd like to hand this in as a feature request... xD Thank you very much and kind regards Christian

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Request for ideas and mentors for Summer of Code 2026
by Stephen J. Turnbull Feb. 3, 2026

Feb. 3, 2026

Hi all, The GNU Mailman Project is applying for Google Summer of Code 2026[1]. Our Ideas Page[2] has been updated. We're still open for mentors, of course, and ideas. There's no deadline, but to be most useful it would be helpful to have these suggestions by February 19 when Google announces selected organizations. Summer of Code projects must involve substantial amounts of new code. The effort involved should be 150 to 200 hours (although programmers' skills may be anywhere from "novice" to "10x", so the amount of code can vary more than that!) Projects which are primarily documentation, user interface skinning, or tests are usually ineligible. Please send those to me by email or on this list if you think the idea would be of interest to other Mailman users, or might trigger suggestions for improvement from them. We are also interested in "tiny" tasks which are suitable for demonstrating interest and making the applicant familiar with our review process. If you have some minor annoyance (whether bug or missing feature) that you think might take an experienced Mailman dev an hour, this is a good chance to get some eyes on it. For these it would be most helpful if you file an issue on the relevant project (usually core[3], Postorius[4], or HyperKitty[5]), and mark it "easy" and "GSoC", and "beginner-friendly" if appropriate. (The difference between "easy" and "beginner-friendly" is "easy" means low effort, while "beginner-friendly" means it does not require prior knowledge of Mailman internals or non-stdlib Python modules such as SQLAlchemy, Zope, or Django.) Documentation and testing tasks are welcome here. Looking forward to your ideas! Steve Footnotes: [1] https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/ [2] https://wiki.list.org/DEV/Google%20Summer%20of%20Code%202026 [3] https://gitlab.com/mailman/mailman [4] https://gitlab.com/mailman/postorius [5] https://gitlab.com/mailman/hyperkitty -- GNU Mailman consultant (installation, migration, customization) Sirius Open Source https://www.siriusopensource.com/ Software systems consulting in Europe, North America, and Japan

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Phantom Email Address in Nonmember List
by Steve Brown Jan. 31, 2026

Jan. 31, 2026

Have an issue that is more of a puzzle than a problem. No real harm done. So don't spend much time on it if you don't recognize the issue. I am administrator for a small list, radg(a)lists.radg.us, hosted by Mailmanlists.net. They are trying hard to figure it out but so far unsuccessful. Looking at the headers of emails sent from steve(a)stevebrown.us to the list and boomeranged back to me, I see a line “X-MailFrom: bounce+66273f.99dcd9c-radg=lists.radg.us(a)stevebrown.xn--us-02t. I gather that it is designating the return path where a message would be sent if there was a delivery problem. From its position in the header, I suspect it is added as they pass through Mailgun, maybe related to DKIM. I am hoping you might know why that bounce address is recognized by Mailman 3 as a real address for my emails, but not for others, even from my wife’s computer traversing the same path from our home to the Mailman 3 server. The Mailman installation does get and process the post, but also puts the “bounce+,,,” address in its list of nonmembers. Mailmanlists.net hasn’t figured out the behavior. I can provide full header information if that would help. My understanding of how headers work is very limited. Steve Brown

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Domain defaults for new lists
by Peter Chubb Jan. 30, 2026

Jan. 30, 2026

Hi Folks, Is there a simple way to set up the defaults for any newly created lists? We've had a few cases recently where in the time between creating a mass-populated list and making it private it's been inundated with spam. I'd like to change the defaults so newly-created lists are private and have private archives, new members are moderated, etc., to give time for the list to be set up completely before announcing it to the world. Peter C

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Is there a bin/find_member in MM3
by iMark Jan. 28, 2026

Jan. 28, 2026

Hi, In Mailman 3, is there an equivalent to the Mailman 2 script command of "bin/find_member <EMAILADDRESS>" ? Regards, Mark

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